Backyard Poultry feeder

[SunChick]

I saw this idea in an issue of Backyard Poultry. It was a 5 gallon bucket that had 4inch square holes cut into it near the bottom. It was told that this would be a good feeder for about 15 birds. I am curious to see if anyone has designed or used this design for a feeder. I have several 10 gallon buckets from a catering company that I want to turn into feeders. I just don't want to drill holes and have feed wasted and spilled if I put 4 inch holes near the bottom for the birds to feed out of. Suggestions?

 

[seedcorn]

Link or picture?

 

[ozark hen]

I saw that, they put a plant tray (the kind you put under a house plant to catch the water) under it. I plan on using one. They also had a really neat idea for the chicken run for winter in a farm journal/magazine. Unroll a large bale of round hay..not straw..in the run. I plan on doing two of them about January. It keeps their feet up off the frozen ground, they mulch the hay, they pick/scratch for seeds. Some seeds will fall to the ground and come next spring you will have lots of good things for them to eat and the weeds will gone|!! We have already ordered two round bales of hay.

 

[tomdeggeater]

A 5 gal. drywall mud or latex bucket will work well. They're about 10.25" at the base. So if you can find a 14" planting pot saucer(?) it would fit nicely. Then I think, get a 1.5" forstner or hole bit and drill 6-8 holes around the bottom of the bucket to let the feed out.That way you can put the lid back on with a couple of thumps on opposite sides of the top to keep the chickens from fouling the feed from roosting on it, and still take the cover off easily to refill.
I don't think I've ever seen a 10 g. bucket, so don't know the measurements.
Good luck, be happy and eat well at the same time...
TomD

 

[allen wranch]

Page down in our "How To" section and you will find some pictures and instructions for homemade feeders and waterers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-howto.html

 

[dragonchick]

Is this possibly the feeder?

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/1/1-4/Ray_Kreuziger.html

 

[ozark hen]

dragon chick...that is more of an extravacant way to do it but it is on the same principle.
Click on Carla's link and it shows how to make a very easy one.

 

[justusnak]

This is the one we built. The tray under it is a plastic top from a water softener. I drilled a hole in the tray and bucket, then in the lid. I put an eye bolt int the bucket, through the pan with a washer and nut, then ran a rope from the eye bolt, through the hole in the lid...so i can hang it. It works great. This is a pickle bucket from Burger King.

Hope this helps!

 

[tomdeggeater]

Thanx All, This is excellent stuff, for many methods.
"To each his (or her) own.
But I'm glad to have all these ideas. A great forum!
Now if I can only get some chickens and a coop!!
And maybe a country woman, in the future.
Who knows, might just happen at the same time?

 

[ozark hen]

nice job on the feeder Deb!