5 Gallon Bucket feeder help

[ambe0487]

I made 2- 5 gallon bucket feeders yesterday and my girls pulled almost all the feed out within a couple hours. I used 7/8 inch drill bit so that the holes were large enough for pellets to come out. As you can see I put a drop pan to catch extras but instead they used it to go through and be picky.

I used the drill bit versus the pvc elbow one because I have a couple birds with large head poofs and combs that will struggle getting into those.

Suggestions?

 

[wamtazlady]

I have never seen a feeder like you made. Apparently it does not work well. You will have to figure out another type of feeder as your birds will just continue to do what they have been doing. Rather than using 3 inch PVC you might try using a 4 inch PVC to handle the birds you believe will not be able to use the smaller ones.

What I would really suggest is that you make a feeder using the PVC elbows and see what happens. Your birds just might use it just fine.

I do want to ask about what appears to be the black sunflower seeds in your feed. You seem to have a large percentage of them in your feed. Treats such as sunflower seeds should make up no more of the diet than 10%. They are like candy to a chicken. Chickens will prefer the sunflower seeds over the nutritious pellets.

 

[ambe0487]

@wamtazlady I don’t typically do the BOSS but I was using it as an incentive to get them to use the new feeder. This is the only treat they’ve had in 2 weeks actually. I haven’t given them anything with the sole purpose of using this to entice them.

 

[wamtazlady]

@wamtazlady I don’t typically do the BOSS but I was using it as an incentive to get them to use the new feeder. This is the only treat they’ve had in 2 weeks actually. I haven’t given them anything with the sole purpose of using this to entice them.

Thank you for answering my concern. Maybe your new feeder would work better with just pellets now that they know what to do.

 

[Alaskan]

I have chickens with fluffy heads (Spitz) and chickens with several different kinds of combs (one male has this huge ugly meaty rose comb)... none of mine have problems with the pipes.

My Muscovy have also used the pipes without trouble.

I am not sure how those little holes are supposed to get them to not waste feed.

 

[ambe0487]

@Alaskan the little holes were my first attempt before I found hubbys larger drill bits. That’s what you get when I’m just winging it!

Do you think these birds would be able to get into a pvc pipe feeder? Or should I do a larger pvc?

 

[Alaskan]

Well those poofs.... how do they find the feed???

The spiky rose comb will have no trouble.

I have had single comb birds, and some huge wattles, but I am not sure if the single combs I have had were that size or not (I try to only have tiny combs because of cold).

I do know the huge wattles had zero damage, even though they do smush up on that bottom lip of the PVC.

I don't think the big single combs would have issues...but I would make sure that the pipe edges are smooth, and sand down rough spots if there are any.

 

[ambe0487]

@Alaskan by the hand of Mom! .

I’ll try some of the larger pvc to see if I can make that work next!

 

[Sueby]

Your birds are beautiful.

 

[ambe0487]

@Sueby thank you!!