Chicken Feeders

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MissChessy

MissChessy

Songster
12 Years
Sep 24, 2007
332
2
141
Texas
What kind of feeders do you use for your chickens??? I'm at my wits end, my hens are wasting a lot of feed by dumping the feed out on the ground. I have one of those red plastic feeders you pour the feed inside and has a bowl with a lip on the sides. I have this propped up on a plastic bin and seems like they just dump the whole thing out on the ground.

I would appreciate any pictures or suggestions on feeder plans.

Thanks all who give me suggestions. I have 15 hens and fixing to get 15 more baby chicks.
 
It sounds like your feeder is probably the same as mine. I've got mine hanging from the rafters so that the feed is just low enough for them to reach, not low enough for them to rummage through looking for "the good stuff". I found it also keeps the mice out and prevents the girls from walking/pooping in it.
 
Try this one


Make an Inexpensive
Poultry Feeder



Making a poultry feeder from a five-gallon bucket is easy and very inexpensive. All you need is:

5-gallon bucket with the lid and handle
12-1/4" bolts
12-1/4" nuts
4-4" pieces of perforated galvanized strap
First remove the lid and the handle from the bucket and set aside for future use.

Cut 2" from the bottom of the bucket to form the food tray.

Cut the top part of the bucket off just below the supporting ribs.

Make one cut straight down on the remaining bucket, this will serve as the food cylinder. Overlap the food cylinder to form a tube 1-1/2" smaller in diameter than the food tray, drill and bolt the cylinder together with four of the 1/4" bolts and nuts.

Next bolt the food tray and the cylinder together using the remaining bolts and the four galvanized straps. Be sure you evenly space the straps around the tray and cylinder while allowing for a 1" gap between the bottom of the cylinder and the bottom of the food tray. This will allow the food to flow evenly and not overflow the food tray.

The lid and handle are attached by drilling two holes in the cylinder and two holes in the top of the lid. Feed the handle through the lid and attach to the cylinder. The lid can slide up and down the handle for filling.

The only part of the bucket not used is the upper supporting rib section.
 
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can you post a pic of the Inexpensive feeder I read it twice just can not get a picture going in my mind
Kasi

PS Walmart bakery sells there 3 and 5 gallon icing buckets I pay 1.00 each for mine.
 
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I have one that a friend made for me. It looks similar to a hog feeder, but the opening is not as big. It is deep enough that they cannot peck at the food and spill it and they cannot get their feet in it either.

It looks as if I haven't lost a pellet of food since I started using it!
 
I know this may sound wrong to some, but put your feed in the straw or shavings. Yup, feeding on the floor in the winter time keeps your chickens from getting bored. It is like trying to find food in the grass. This will also keep the fighting down. Yes, you might get a mouse or two, but the chickens will take care of them. They are like a treat to them.
 
smile.png
I like the bucket feeder idea, thanks. I just happen to have all the materials I need around here somewhere, now all I have to do is find it.

Panner123, I agree. A few weeks ago the coop was getting a little damp inside. The temps went up, and it made the straw not really damp, just a little moist. I turned the straw into a pile in the corner thinking that if I turned it several times it would help it dry. Anyway, the chickens went nuts. They were pecking at the pile, picking out pieces of feed. In about a half hour they had the pile all spread out again. I do this now every couple of days and the chickens do seem more content. It gives them something to do, and I am more efficient with feed.

Bob

P.S. Feed on the floor does contribute to the mice problem, but MsPrissy posted a mixture that I am using and it seems to be helping my problem.
 
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Here is a pic of my hanging feeder- it is just low enough for them to reach w/out dumping feed everywhere (about head height).

DSCI0131.jpg


I also have my waterer up on a crate to keep them from mucking it up.
 

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