I had noticed for quite a while that my chicks would flip food (crumbles) out onto the floor of brooders while searching for pieces of the size they wanted or could handle. I breed and raise bantams and the chick starter is a crumble that is not of uniform size. I experimented with an old hand food grinder.and found that if the crumbles were ground to a fine/uniform size that the chicks just ate it without picking through and wasting feed. I tried a food processor but too dusty. Another poultry breeder told me that they used an old coffee grinder. I still use my old food grinder and feel the finer feed has reduced feed use by over 1/3. Also have less to pick up when cleaning brooders. Now for the down side. Grinding too fast makes dust/mess. The finer feed bridges and doesn't flow well in the fruit jar type feeder. I have found it works best in a tray type feeder. Hope this helps or inspires someone else to use or improve on what I do.
