Bucket Feed is the be-all end-all? So much waste!

[Bicoastal]

I thought the bucket feeders with PVC access holes were highly praised here as the be-all, end-all for cleanliness, quantity, affordability, and reduced waste. My 4-week old keets are wasting a tremendous amount of feed. More so with the bucket feed than with the traditional trough-style chick feeder they have graduated from. I'm considering going back to the large open trough-style metal feeder I have, except I have to dump and clean that daily.

The bucket keeps the food clean, for sure. But they are shoveling so much food out with the underside of their beaks as they eat. It is creating a mess, a waste, and a buffet for rodents. Is this just a trade off some are willing to make for the cleanliness and quantity the bucket can hold? Or am I missing some key design aspect that will stop the waterfall of crumble as they eat?

 

[Bicoastal]

Here is my bucket feeder. 2” street elbows, if I recall correctly.

 

[saysfaa]

I don't know but this has had zero waste for me for the past six or eight months. It is a stainless steel dog dish in a plastic bucket. The plastic bucket is to allow weight in the bottom and to raise it to about even with the hens' backs.

Possibly also significant is that they can all eat from at the same time, although they don't very often. And that I never feed treats in this bowl, so they don't search for treats in the feed.

 

[Isadora]

Here is my bucket feeder. 2” street elbows, if I recall correctly.

When I've seen examples of these bucket feeders done in the past they have the PVC set up differently or even a lip across the bottom part so that feed does not come out.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Oh no, I'm so sorry this isn't working for you. I have a bucket feeder and have almost no waste.

When I've seen examples of these bucket feeders done in the past they have the PVC set up differently or even a lip across the bottom part so that feed does not come out.

This may be the difference. I cut one end of the elbow off and moved it to the other end like a cap. Sort of like this, but instead of throwing away the part with the red x, I moved it to the blue end.

This is my feeder.

We still get a tiny amount of food on the ground, but I think most of that comes from what is stuck on their faces.

 

[Al Gerhart]

You pay for a good feeder even if you don't have one. These bucket feeders are cheap if you DIY but that is about all they have going for them.

 

[Bicoastal]

You pay for a good feeder even if you don't have one. These bucket feeders are cheap if you DIY but that is about all they have going for them.

I’m happy to hear suggestions, if you have any.

Adding up all of the materials, making your own bucket feeders is not the cheapest option. Like a lot of posters here, I have a DIY spirit and was looking to build a better mouse trap, so to speak.

I have a large metal trough feeder but the bucket is much cleaner and holds more feed. I just need to reduce spillage.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

How many chickens per bucket feeder? I'm looking for some options...

 

[Coops Dad]

I have a couple of these and I hang them so the bottom is about 6" off the ground. I give them a half hour of access to the buckets in the morning and evening; the rest of the day, they clean up what they spilled and then go forage through 6 acres of pasture grass.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

I have a couple of these and I hang them so the bottom is about 6" off the ground. I give them a half hour of access to the buckets in the morning and evening; the rest of the day, they clean up what they spilled and then go forage through 6 acres of pasture grass.

Now THAT sounds like a plan to me!