chickens dumping feed everywhere

[ufgrad98]

My chickens are about 22 weeks old. For the last week, I've noticed that Ive been going through A LOT of feed. I have a hanging feed bucket and i usually fill it up and only have to refill 2 a week. I filled it up to the top yesterday and its almost gone today. It is ALL.OVER.THE.COOP!!! They are just pecking it out and throwing it on the floor all of a sudden. Any suggestions? This has not been a problem in the past.....

 

[amydzek]

mine do this as well... it drives me bonkers!!! Sadly my chickens have me trained, I just assume that they need/want something else to eat so when they start dumping their food out I make them something to eat... chicken and rice, ground beef and rice, noodles, salad... deviled eggs...
they eventually stop.. I guess they are playing or looking for something else, sorry I am no help

 

[ufgrad98]

do i need to keep refilling the food bucket, or will they eat the spilled food on the coop floor?

 

[SuburbanSue]

mine are just a little older than yours...I have the same type feeder and the same problem. Just filled it up 3/4 full yesterday and today is almost empty. I'm gonna try making a feeder out of PVC piping that I have seen on the internet. My intent is to have this mounted off the floor with a wooden tray under it to catch as much as I can. Its frustrating to see the feed scattered on the floor. I'm not sure if they will eat it off the floor, today I hand scooped the feed from around the feeder and put it in a pile on the side...we will see what happens tomorrow!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I would make them clean it up, and if it were me, I'd put a catch pan under your feeder, kind of like this or figure something out for your situation:

 

[nuttyredhead]

THis is what mine did...I thought it had something to do with all 16 chickens trying to eat at the same time kind of a free for all. I had 2 pvc pipe (the ones with the y at the bottom). So i switch to a 45 degree elbow, 3 -4 ft pipe with holes in the top. No foot spilt now! I need to make up the second one whereas there are only 5 holes right now. I think they need more! I will have to take pics! I got the idea from the pvc feeder page here!

 

[amydzek]

very good idea!!!! I love it!!!

 

[SteveBaz]