Building chicken feeders?

[prepforshtf]

It's a flag when the feeder is full the flag is up when it needs feed the flag is down.

 

[aliciasimon]

We built this one for our six hens. It was very inexpensive and easy to make. We have to fill it every 5 days or so. It's basically a 5-gallon bucket with holes at the bottom and then a vegetable tray where the feed comes out.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/slate119.html

Are you sure you want a small feeder? We started with a small feeder from the feed store when the hens were babies. After a while, we had to fill it every day. And then we needed a new solution because the feeder was just too small.

I have to edit my post - the bucket we have for the feeder is more like 2.5 gallons, not 5.

 

[bernaboo111]

I may fit, I want a big feeder, but we can't fit it in our coop. But this idea might just work... What is the diameter of the 2 1/2 bucket?

 

[aliciasimon]

The 2 1/2 gallon bucket is about 12" in diameter and about 16" high.

 

[RebeccaBarn]

I built a 5 gallon bucket feeder with a PVC elbow a few days ago, and my chickens really don't seem to understand how to use it. They are still young, 5-7 weeks. They will definitely eat treats like mashed egg yolk out of it if they see me put in the opening, but when I let them out of the coop in the morning, they go searching in places where food has spilled on the ground rather than to the feeder. Any advice on training them to use the feeder?

 

[LoneOak]

If you want a really small feeder that will have to be filled daily for 2 or 3 birds you can make one out of a plastic coffee can. Punch a hole in the center of the container and punch the same size hole in the lid. Run a piece of 1/4" rope through the container and lid and tie a secure knot at the bottom of the container. About 2 inches from the bottom of the container cut a slit and divide it into 3 equal slits all around. From the side of the slits cut up at each end about 2.5 to 3 inches and make 3 flaps hinged near the top of the container. Push each flap into the container giving the birds enough room to stick their heads in. With the rope coming out of the top, fill the bottom of the feed container and secure the lid just like it still had coffee in it. Tie the can up in your coop about chest height to your birds and you are all set to go.

I made a bunch of these when I first got chickens about 10 years ago or so and still use them occasionally for things like oyster shell and grit for baby chicks. I'll look around and see if I can find a picture of one and post it for you but I'm not promising I've got one on this computer.

Edit to add pic,
This pic is from way back, maybe the first one I ever made, before I made some changes and improved on the design. It is not exactly like I described buy you will get the idea on how its done and maybe you can improve on it even more. The feeder is hanging up in the background behind this big ole RIR Rooster strutting his stuff.

 

[bernaboo111]

Hi RebeccaBarn, the way I trained my chickens to use the water nipples, I used my finger to "peck" at the nipples, and making a *bok* *bok* sound. It took a half hour to do it, but it was worth it. I would try doing the same thing with the food.

 

[chipahoy4]

What size pvc elbow did you use, I really want to make one like this with 3 feeder elbows, would save a lot of time walking out to the coop. Thanks

 

[stilltexx]

i use 4 inch l shape and cut out the top of the bottom straight

 

[jimmywalt]

What size pvc elbow did you use, I really want to make one like this with 3 feeder elbows, would save a lot of time walking out to the coop. Thanks

For the 5 gallon bucket feeder I have a 3" elbow.