"Chick-proofing" a Chick Feeder - Any ideas?

[Eznet2u]

We recently got 5 Cornish Cross Chicks. I have been told to withhold food for 12 hours a day.(during the night) (They are a week old)

We have this feeder...

They can empty half of it on the floor of the brooder in about 20mins.
This is very wasteful, not to mention that they can now pick through the bedding and eat all night.

Does anyone have any way to stop this? Should I glue toothpicks in a X pattern over each hole?
1/4" Screening over each hole?

Your suggestions are welcome.

 

[Darin115]

I feed mine all they can eat for the first 4 weeks 24 hours a day. I may start limiting their food to 12 hours a day after 4 weeks, depending on what they look like. You need to keep food available for them 24 hours a day for at least 3-4 weeks.

The last batch I left feed out 24 hours a day until the day before slaughter.

Mine never wasted one little piece of food. If you do take the food away they will clean up the scraps in no time.

I would use the feeder as is and not worry about it. Or you can place the feeder on a piece of cardboard and if they spill any you can take the cardboard out and the feeder after 12 hours. Then there is nothing left for them.

I hope you have a bunch of those feeders. They will drain one of those in no time.

 

[KrisH]

I would suggest turning out the light. they usually don't eat in the dark.

RobertH

 

[Daddas1Punkin]

I feed mine all they can eat for the first 4 weeks 24 hours a day. I may start limiting their food to 12 hours a day after 4 weeks, depending on what they look like. You need to keep food available for them 24 hours a day for at least 3-4 weeks.

The last batch I left feed out 24 hours a day until the day before slaughter.

The only problem with that is they are getting pasty put from it...

I would suggest turning out the light. they usually don't eat in the dark.

RobertH

They would get too cold, they are only one week old, and 68f in the house.


Thanks anyway guys...

 

[NickyPick]

Putting a frisbee under that feeder is what worked for me. The frisbee I used is about 3/4 inch larger than the base of the feeder. They scrape the feed out of the holes and into the frisbee, which is too narrow to scrape out. I haven't found anymore piles of feed lost under the shavings anymore.

 

[tweetysvoice]

Putting a frisbee under that feeder is what worked for me. The frisbee I used is about 3/4 inch larger than the base of the feeder. They scrape the feed out of the holes and into the frisbee, which is too narrow to scrape out. I haven't found anymore piles of feed lost under the shavings anymore.

That is an excellent Idea!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Eznet2u]

Putting a frisbee under that feeder is what worked for me. The frisbee I used is about 3/4 inch larger than the base of the feeder. They scrape the feed out of the holes and into the frisbee, which is too narrow to scrape out. I haven't found anymore piles of feed lost under the shavings anymore.

now...where is that Frisbee...

 

[NickyPick]

I got the advice here on this site.

Now that my chicks are a little older, I've started putting the grit in the frisbee. It all gets mixed together, but I know the little ones are getting some.