All Things Treadle Feeder

[Al Gerhart]

The feeder is on a stone slab and fixed to the wall.
When the chicks were small I would put my hand in to get more feed to flow down, because otherwise the chicks had difficulty reaching the pellets.
I have not observed an issue with there being a lot of feed in the front.
Even though they are scoopers, nobody is spilling feed.
What issues do you anticipate from there being a lot of feed piling up?

Well, if there is no spillage, never mind! But if they ever do start spilling, just choke off the throat with a bit of cardboard so there is less feed piling up at the bottom.

Thanks for all the feedback on the feeder.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well, if there is no spillage, never mind! But if they ever do start spilling, just choke off the throat with a bit of cardboard so there is less feed piling up at the bottom.

Thanks for all the feedback on the feeder.

I keep meaning to write an article about my rat eradication journey but never seem to find the time. Maybe over the holiday. It would cover your feeder (including some installation tips, and even a design tweak suggestions!), but also the rat contraceptives, dry ice etc.

I will probably stop manually releasing feed down into the front soon. I am just a bit anxious for my tiny one - and want to make sure she gets enough food. She seems healthy enough but is still a bit hit or miss on the treadle and it is still quite a stretch for her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I keep meaning to write an article about my rat eradication journey but never seem to find the time. Maybe over the holiday. It would cover your feeder (including some installation tips, and even a design tweak suggestions!), but also the rat contraceptives, dry ice etc.

I don't want to derail the thread; it's a very good discussion about treadle feeders and rodents too.

I would love for you to write an article with the information you've mentioned. I think it would benefit us all. When you write it, post a link too! I sometimes miss new articles when published.

 

[coopncottage]

I came to ask the same question. I've got a small flock using the Grandpa's feeder and it has been great. Our mouse population has all but disappeared. But now I want to add 5-6 more chickens, and will probably just get them as chicks. They'll be in the brooder until it warms up, and we'll integrate them slowly, but I'm wondering if we need to go through the 3-week training process again. Do they figure it out faster when big girls are using it? I dread the thought of an open feeder in the run again -- the mice were so gross.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Keep the chicks far away from any treadle feeder until they hit two to three pounds. Small ones will get trapped. They will learn to eat when an adult eats, no need to go back to a blocked open feeder.

 

[Anon112]

I came to ask the same question. I've got a small flock using the Grandpa's feeder and it has been great. Our mouse population has all but disappeared. But now I want to add 5-6 more chickens, and will probably just get them as chicks. They'll be in the brooder until it warms up, and we'll integrate them slowly, but I'm wondering if we need to go through the 3-week training process again. Do they figure it out faster when big girls are using it? I dread the thought of an open feeder in the run again -- the mice were so gross.

Mine learned really fast from watching the older chickens. And one of my roosters---papa Monroe---was very nice about holding it open for the little ones when they first started using it.

I definitely agree with making sure they aren't around the treadle feeder until they are heavy enough to open the treadle on their own. I had one very close call with a chick who got her leg stuck in the feeder before I knew better.