Chicken-wire manger for greens & weeds

[vermontgal]

So, when I give my hens some weeds in the summer time, I want them to eat them. But when I give them the last of the Brussels sprouts leaves in the winter -- I really want them to eat them, not trample them.

I made this manger out of chicken netting. It is slightly funnel shaped, and wired shut at the bottom. I have it a little higher than chicken-head height. Put greens in the top, the chickens can peck them out through the sides.

It works pretty well! Here's my two barred rocks munching on Brussels sprouts leaves.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

That is a wonderful idea. I'm having to rethink my chicken arrangements. I may have to confine them more and that would be a good way to give them a nice variety of greens.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

That looks like a good idea! I have been using a suet basket but they are pretty thin, good for PB&J sandwiches & maybe a few greens but I like yours, looks like you can put quite a bit of greens in it.

 

[nhnanna]

Great Idea, wish I had thought of it this summer.

 

[ChanceRider]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing. Ironically, we had brussel sprouts tonight and I set aside the trimmings. Tomorrow morning I can make a quick feeder like yours and count on less waste

.

 

[cmom]

What a great idea!!!

 

[Hooterville]

Thanks for sharing--I'm going to make one tonight!

 

[lorihadams]

We did the same thing with some leftover hardwire cloth that we had. Made a small square one for the rabbits to play with...we put clover and lettuce and timothy hay in it and they toss it all over the place. We also made a long one that we attached to the run with zip ties for the chickens and we stuff it full of clover and grass and lettuce or cabbage and they go crazy! We kinda based it off of a suet cage for birds.

Lori

 

[Chicabee19]

Wonderful! I am going to keep this idea in my "coop building" folder.