Any tricks for keeping slugs out of feeders

[jp57]

I like to leave my girl's food out at night time this time of year. Their coop is inside an enclosure, so I keep the door the coop open. This way as soon as they want to eat they can. They don't have to wait for me to get out of bed. I stopped doing that after being out in the middle of the night and seeing slugs all over it. I had noticed the feeders were a little slimy, but thought that was just the chickens.
Any tips?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

What time do you get out of bed? Are you saying they are not locked up at night as well?

 

[jp57]

I'm usually up at 6AM Mon-Sat due to work. On Sundays I like to try to sleep in until 8AM-9AM. Their coop and run sit inside of a caged enclosure with a roof. I leave the door to the coop open to give them more air, but I keep the main enclosure closed so nothing gets in or out. I leave their food inside of the enclosure, so when they leave the coop, they can eat. Even when I go out at 6:30AM they are at the door to enclosure waiting to be let out (I let them free range). I'd rather have their food waiting for them. A lot of times if I feed them as I'm letting them out, they run out into the yard looking for other things to eat, and sparrows and other birds eat a lot of their food.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I'm usually up at 6AM Mon-Sat due to work. On Sundays I like to try to sleep in until 8AM-9AM. Their coop and run sit inside of a caged enclosure with a roof. I leave the door to the coop open to give them more air, but I keep the main enclosure closed so nothing gets in or out. I leave their food inside of the enclosure, so when they leave the coop, they can eat. Even when I go out at 6:30AM they are at the door to enclosure waiting to be let out (I let them free range). I'd rather have their food waiting for them. A lot of times if I feed them as I'm letting them out, they run out into the yard looking for other things to eat, and sparrows and other birds eat a lot of their food.

I was hoping it was enclosed.. Try pouring salt around the perimeter for the slugs.

 

[jp57]

Here is a picture of the enclosure if it helps. I will try salt. Would chalk work too?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Here is a picture of the enclosure if it helps. I will try salt. Would chalk work too?

I kill slugs with salt. I don't know if chalk will work.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Try hanging the feeder.

.GC

 

[jp57]

I was thinking about hanging it as well. I find it knocked over every day.

 

[Mimi13]

Yes, I have to hang nearly everything, chicken food, dog food, cat food, even the bags of horse feed during the summer to keep the ants out. Slugs do get in my dogs’ food bowls if they aren’t hung.

 

[Chickassan]

Beer kills slugs, I sit my bowls in a slightly bigger pan of beer. Yes, your chickens will sip the beer but it won't hurt them or turn them into boozers.