Chicken feeders

[Auntsally]

My feeder is just a milk carton with a big hole cut in the side. My feed is stored under my porch in a metal trashcan with the lid bungeed on.
View attachment 2438841
Here's a top down view. It's on the tray (tray is from when we got a cheese platter from our local cheese shop) because that way the feed doesn't get mixed into the dirt, so they don't waste it.

Like the tray idea will try that thanks

I use a pvc tube that goes into a small corner container. When the feed is low or empty, I don't fill it right away, I let the flock clean up the feed on the group but I don't let it stay empty for the entire day.
Do you have a lot of rodents getting into your run or coop?

have you seen any rats with this method?

 

[Auntsally]

What part of the year do you not have traps set? Or is this a typo? Initially, I thought maybe you gave them Mondays and Thursdays off, or something.

I have seen mice around at all times of the year. Dang the little blighters! A little one ran into the run last summer. One of the girls made quick work of it. You go, Lark the Mouse Eater!

Monday’s and Fridays off ! I would request the weekends off if I was a

 

[CluckerFamily]

I’ve seen a couple off rats we live in the country fields all around us so it’s difficult to keep control off it I’ve not set traps as I can’t bare to see them alive or dead I’m so scared off them ! I’ve not seen one in the day but seen one just as it gets dusk or in the morning just before the suns comeing up I’m not around there at night so no idea how many come out I put the lids down no the food witch is a plastic tub so they can’t get in it

Are they able to get into the run where the food is?
Rats and mice can eat through plastic without a problem.

 

[KarynVA]

I use this Stoltco feeder. No spillage at all and waterproof for outdoors.

 

[black_cat]

I use this Stoltco feeder. No spillage at all and waterproof for outdoors.

View attachment 2439693

How large is it? Like a full trashcan size or?

 

[KarynVA]

How large is it? Like a full trashcan size or?

No, it holds 22 lbs of feed. Inside bucket dimensions are: top diameter is 11-inches, bottom diameter is 10-inches, height of bucket is 12-inches. I use it as a hanging feeder inside the chicken coop, but it would work beautifully outdoors as well and can be placed on top of a cinder block or stump.

 

[rayrose]

I leave my feeder in the run 24/7 and I have NO rodent problem, because I made it rodent proof, when I built the run. I love this feeder, because I never have any spills nor trash/poop get inside of it. The design prevents birds from raking out the food, therefore I have NO waste. It holds 15 pounds, and lasts
about a week (12 hens) before refilling. It can be hung, but I have mine on a raised platform. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/saturn-yellow-feeders-3-and-15-lb?cat_id=143

 

[RojoMarz]

Is that the one they stand on and it opens? I had that one my chickens didn’t get used to it I put a brick there to keep it open in the end months off trying with them I took it away I was worried they would starve also they would pull that out all over the floor

Yes it is. Unfortunately, propping open the door defeats the purpose and makes training harder. I would put my foot on the lever/arm that opens the door and set a chicken on the treadle. Let them get a couple bites, then remove my foot. If they got off the treadle, the door would shut. I'd then do the same process with another chicken. Didn't really take that long for them to learn, plus, when they are 'hungry', they seem to remember where the food is.

 

[Auntsally]

Yes it is. Unfortunately, propping open the door defeats the purpose and makes training harder. I would put my foot on the lever/arm that opens the door and set a chicken on the treadle. Let them get a couple bites, then remove my foot. If they got off the treadle, the door would shut. I'd then do the same process with another chicken. Didn't really take that long for them to learn, plus, when they are 'hungry', they seem to remember where the food is.

Ok will try it again ! And see if they catch on think I might have special needs chickens they seem really stupid

Are they able to get into the run where the food is?
Rats and mice can eat through plastic without a problem.

yes unfortunately they are free range they are outside so food and water is outside in the evening they go inside there house it’s like a hutch so I close the feeders off put lids on they haven’t got into the feeders yet this is there house when not in it they are free to roam around

 

[Auntsally]

Ok will try it again ! And see if they catch on think I might have special needs chickens they seem really stupid

yes unfortunately they are free range they are outside so food and water is outside in the evening they go inside there house it’s like a hutch so I close the feeders off put lids on they haven’t got into the feeders yet this is there house when not in it they are free to roam around

So they don’t have a pen for me to enclose feeders in during the day ,