Chick feeder - No waste

[EllisB]

I suspect I'm not the first chicken newbie to look at the stacks of the small jar-top gravity chick feeders at the animal supply store and say, "well, those must work pretty well since they're the only small feeder option." After my first 10 chicks went through several quarts of food in the first couple days I realized why the stores only sell these food-wasting units. Of the many great solutions I found on BYC and other sites (http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/09/outsmarting-chickens-at-feeder.html) I came up with this simple mod and my chicks went from shoveling food onto the litter to not wasting any food. Carefully open the crimp around the edge holding the 2 pieces together, cut a piece of 1/2" hardware cloth to fit (press into place), and re-crimp the 2 pieces together.

This is my first BYC post but I have been reading all winter and I really appreciate all the great advice from all of you.

 

[Sonya9]

That is a great idea! Yeah they do seem to waste MOST of their food. I started elevating it on an upside down metal dog dish when they were 3 weeks old, then they grew and started spilling it all again! So I put it inside the dish instead.

They are just about ready to go to the coop, wish I had seen your idea earlier. I did buy a feeder for the coop that their breeder said would save us from wasting feed: It is spring loaded so you can adjust the height of the plastic separator things.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I just bought one of these feeders too--but I'm doing fermented feed so not sure if it will work for me.

 

[Chickamauga Man]

Is it ok to remove the feed and make them eat what they have scratched out?

 

[TheChickInn]

Great idea!!!

 

[enola]

Is it ok to remove the feed and make them eat what they have scratched out?

Yes

 

[EllisB]

Thanks all, one full week with this modified feeder and not one food pile on the floor yet. I'll have another batch (15 brahmas) this week so I'll repost if there are and issues with newly hatched chicks.

 

[aart]

Hmm.... looks good!

I put mine on top of a shallow box covered with 1/2" HC, anything that gets spilled gets put back in the feeder.

 

[kitfoxdrvr]

Is it ok to remove the feed and make them eat what they have scratched out?

In fact, I consider this the way to go. They learn fast to scratch this way, and if you are raising mama-less, this is our responsibility to teach them. Nothing wasted around here; in fact, I throw a few hands-full into their bedding every time I open the top, anyway.

Steve

 

[Summerford]

Is it ok to remove the feed and make them eat what they have scratched out?

Yes it is and giving some crushed crackers on the ground or the bottom of the brooder is a good idea. Makes them work a little for their food.Mine were scratching at 2 weeks.