Best feeder for 8 chickens with an enclosed run?

[nsbchickens]

I previously used the rentacoop style feeder and a grandpas treadle feeder, but that was with 4 birds. No I have 8 and I’m wondering what yall are using? I like the idea of the 3” pvc that I can refill from outside of the run, but I’m also worried about rodents eventually finding out. I feel like a treadle feeder I’ll have to refill multiple times a week. What would you recommend?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I am not a fan of leaving food in the coop so my opinion may not be what you’re looking for but I like the gravity feeders on legs. I would fill it once in the morning and bring any leftovers into the garage at night. Now I plop down a bowl in the morning and they eat it all. I give them a little more at night and there are leftovers (which is rare) I put them up for the night. But my situation is different now because I don’t have a run really. When I did the gravity feeder on legs worked well—they didn’t beak food out or make a mess.

 

[NatJ]

I previously used the rentacoop style feeder and a grandpas treadle feeder, but that was with 4 birds. No I have 8 and I’m wondering what yall are using? I like the idea of the 3” pvc that I can refill from outside of the run, but I’m also worried about rodents eventually finding out. I feel like a treadle feeder I’ll have to refill multiple times a week. What would you recommend?

How much feed does the treadle feeder hold? If you have 8 chickens, and each one eats 1/4 pound of food each day, they will eat 2 pounds per day. Some chickens eat more than that, but probably not more than double. So between 2 and 4 pounds of food per day. That would be between 14 and 28 pounds of food each week.

If you don't know how much feed the treadle feeder can hold, you can weigh it once and see. Either weigh the feed and then dump it in the feeder, or weigh the feeder empty and again when it is full, and do the math.

I don't know how much feed a PVC pipe feeder would hold, so I can't say whether it would be more or less than what your treadle feeder holds.


How often do you want to refill the feeder? Some people like to check the feed each day and add more if needed, some other people like to fill a big feeder and have it last a long time. What length of time are you hoping for?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Doubling the flock may also include doubling the amount of feeders, as higher ranked or older birds may chase newer, younger birds away.

I have no issue filling feeders daily (I put out up to 5) and I take in feed at night, but maybe that doesn't agree with your schedule.

 

[Altairsky]

I would never live without a well designed treadle feeder. I have one for 10 birds, in the coop, and I refill it every 2 weeks.
I free range though so my birds might eat less.

 

[nsbchickens]

I would never live without a well designed treadle feeder. I have one for 10 birds, in the coop, and I refill it every 2 weeks.
I free range though so my birds might eat less.

Which treadle are you using?

 

[Al Gerhart]

Nat J, Altairsky, and Rosemarythyme have given some great advice. Not sure of the other manufacturers, but our Medium feeder will hold around 33 pounds of feed if you stuff it to the gills. Eight birds, like they said, 2 pounds per day, 16 days before needing a refill with 8 hens. The extra large, 63 pounds,31 days.... Way overkill for a small flock unless you have to travel a lot.

 

[NatJ]

Not sure of the other manufacturers, but our Medium feeder will hold around 33 pounds of feed if you stuff it to the gills. Eight birds, like they said, 2 pounds per day, 16 days before needing a refill with 8 hens. The extra large, 63 pounds,31 days.... Way overkill for a small flock unless you have to travel a lot.

Most feed comes in 40 pound or 50 pounds bags. For the extra-large feeder that holds 63 pounds of feed, a person could buy a bag of feed and dump it all in, then buy a new bag when it gets low. This would save them storing feed anywhere else. In areas with high humidity, there might be problems with mold, but in some other climates it might be quite convenient.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Most feed comes in 40 pound or 50 pounds bags. For the extra-large feeder that holds 63 pounds of feed, a person could buy a bag of feed and dump it all in, then buy a new bag when it gets low. This would save them storing feed anywhere else. In areas with high humidity, there might be problems with mold, but in some other climates it might be quite convenient.

Great points. Although two medium would hold 66 pounds, provide 20" of eating space, opposed to 14", and as one poster rightfully pointed out, having two feeders is great for bullies in the flock. Cost is actually lower for two mediums than one extra large.

I'm a tightwad, making and selling trophy kitchens, it kind of bleeds through to other things. LOL