Chicken Feeders

[Alaskan]

So the run is at the base of the hill?

Your choices are to make the water go somewhere else (like a ditch or drain system) or make your run higher. If you make your run higher with sand, the chickens can be on top of the dry sand and the water can be hidden by the sand where it eventually goes into the soil below or evaporates.

 

[horsesnchkns]

I am having the same problem. We made a "homemade feeder", but it's alot like the store bought ones. The "holes" to feed the tray are maybe an inch tall.. - the rim around is about 2 inches. My girls (and one rooster) are 11 weeks old, so I still have them on the chick crumbles... (was told to keep them on starter until they are 18 weeks) - and there is SO MUCH food on the ground (sand flooring) - I have it hanging, and have raised it, but I can try raising it more... to their BACKS! That seems high... but if they can still get their faces in there I guess I know they won't starve! Here's a pic of my feeder... Thanks all! Any time I have a question about how I'm doing things.. I come here and ALWAYS find my answers!!!

 

[Going Quackers]

How strange i would wonder about the height of it as well. I have a hanging in the girls run, it's a plastic type and they never toss it out, the feed is a crumble too.

I do have it set pretty high, not that they cannot reach it of coarse lol but enough so it's no toy.

 

[horsesnchkns]

Well, I raised my feeder yesterday afternoon, and I stood around and made sure they could reach it. Only one girl went to it (they were more interested in my shoe laces and whatever treat I may be bringing today) - She got to it fine... she can really only reach her head over the rim... so I think this will work. I'm keeping and eye on them to make sure they are eating, but I think the "up to the back" level will work... It just seemed so high to me!! But... these guys on here know what they're talking about...

 

[chickenman111]

Thanks everybody

 

[RandyA]

I was very interested in trying to make the "build your own" chicken feeder. After looking at it I knew that I could not build it myself. I am not the type that can do something that complicated since I have no experience and tools to do it.

I went ahead and found one that is already made and is rat proof. Much easier for me to just buy one. I am very happy with the one that I got. It is made with galvanized metal and already have seen the rats vanish. You can just google the "the carpenter shop" in Oklahoma city to see what I got.

Randy

 

[Rich386]

Here is what I found it is simple to build and reasonably priced. You could use a plastic pail or a metal trash can for the container. If you can cut a hole and put in a screw you can do it.

 

[Aussie-Chook]

Can you cut a furrow to drain the water away? Fill it with gravel or river stone (smoother)? Find a dry place somewhere in the run to create a dust bath (raised a couple inches off ground, filled with sand) - like a 2ftx2ft frame of 2x4's or 2x6's filled with sand (on a bed of gravel)???

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/588292/ideas-for-no-or-low-waste-chick-feeders
see post #3