Chickens dumping their feed? Help.

[mountainbunny]

I use a hanging gravity basket feeder that holds about 3 to 4 days worth of feed. It hangs from the roof and is right up next to the inner wall so it is stable. I've always used this set up with no issues. I recently changed their feed back from feather fixer PELLETS to their normal feed of layer CRUMBLES. Since changing back to crumbles from pellets they are somehow emptying the entire feeder in a day. There is no way they are eating that much in one day and I can see crumbles spilled all over the floor. I've never had an issue with this in the past and I can't figure out how they are dumping it out. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Athena2344]

what are you using to tie the feeder with? i used a paracord system in my old coop and never had issues with it. About how much is being spilled? I noticed that all the birds i have had LOVE the crumbles, small sized grains, and just smaller sized feed in general: its easier to get into their mouth. How large is your flock? They may actually be eating it all....

 

[imnukensc]

Seems like the easy fix is to go back to feeding pellets. From what you're describing, it's the feed, not the feeder.

 

[mountainbunny]

I'm using a very heaving gauge sturdy wire. They've had the same feeder hung the same way for over a year with no issues. The feed has always lasted 3 to 4 days until this past week when I switched back to crumbles. I have 5 hens. I see crumbles all over the floor making me think they are spilling it somehow.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Sounds like they're used to the pellets and are shoveling out the crumbles looking for the bigger chunks. If you'll notice, sometimes you'll find pellets in crumbles.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

agree, go back to the pellets. Maybe not the feather fixer, but pretty much any adult feed comes in pellet form.

 

[mountainbunny]

Yeah I was thinking maybe just go back to the pellets.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My 5 girls bill the crumbles out of the hanging feeder. . And leave on the floor. While eating the pellets if one drops to the floor, they immediately scoff it up. Nothing but pellets for my girls. .. GC

 

[RUNuts]

Any chance of squirrels, rats, mice, possums, coons, song birds, trash birds or anything else that likes chicken feed can get to the feeder?

I've got a dog that will lick up the dust from me topping off the feeder on the patio.
If you remove the feeder, is there feed on the ground? If not, something is hauling it off.

 

[mountainbunny]

I don't think I have any critters sneaking in to get their feed. This problem just started as soon as I switched them back to crumbles. I just filled their feeder back up with pellets so will see if that was causing the problem. Thanks for all the input!