chickens scattering their feed all over the coop floor

[SueT]

I just feed Purina Flock Raiser in big dog bowls. I check the mill date on the bag and make sure it's less than 2 months old when I buy it. I don't mix it w anything else. My 15 chickens all really like it. They don't waste it and they don't spill it.

 

[Aapomp831]

I just feed Purina Flock Raiser in big dog bowls. I check the mill date on the bag and make sure it's less than 2 months old when I buy it. I don't mix it w anything else. My 15 chickens all really like it. They don't waste it and they don't spill it.

Must be nice! My chickens would try to stand on the edge of the bowl and knock it over immediately.

 

[SueT]

Must be nice! My chickens would try to stand on the edge of the bowl and knock it over immediately.

Pet bowls that are wider at the bottom don't tip. They get their water same way.
Similar to these--

 

[aart]

Pet bowls that are wider at the bottom don't tip. They get their water same way.
Similar to these--
View attachment 2418815 View attachment 2418816

Yeah....but still.

 

[CanadaEh]

Mixed feed is the problem as others have said. Still, the vast majority of feeders are going to be poor at preventing waste. Treadle feeders work best at stopping feed loss. They need to have a deep feed tray with at least a 1/2" wide lip projecting into the feeder to stop raking. Even then you will occasionally have a hen that has learned to rake feed furiously but a feeder lip extension stops even that.

the alternative solution (other than not mixing + superior feeder) is not to use preprocessed (pellets. crumbs, crushed, rolled) feed at all. Almost any whole grain that gets dropped on the ground - they dig it out and eat eventually as is or as a sprout, what can't be said about bagged feed that turns to powder/compost. You will have to provide enough of high protein ranging or supplement though, but there will be virtually no waste of whole grains,

 

[NatJ]

The only issue i have with mash is that if they don’t eat it all, what do you do with it before it molds? And what kind of a feeder besides a bowl can contain it if you have 30+ chickens?

Mash (wet feed) will not mold if you feed limited quantities.
Just keep a feeder of dry feed available at all times, and they can fill up there after gobbling all the mash.

Bowl for 30 chickens: several bowls, or I've seen some people use a section of gutter like you'd put on a house roof.

My favorite "bowls" for chickens are the bottoms of plastic milk jugs: I cut it to whatever height is right, use it until it gets too filthy, and then throw it away. I've also used the plastic containers that sour cream, hummus, or other foods come in. They all tip easily, but seem fine for things like mash that get eaten quickly.

 

[Al Gerhart]

the alternative solution (other than not mixing + superior feeder) is not to use reprocessed (pellets. crumbs, crushed, rolled) feed at all. Almost any whole grain that gets dropped on the ground - they dig it out and eat eventually as is or as a sprout, what can't be said about bagged feed that turns to powder/compost. You will have to provide enough of high protein ranging or supplement though, but there will be virtually no waste of whole grains,

The commercial flocks wouldn't spend the money to formulate feed if whole grains were better or cheaper. To get eggs out of a hen her bottleneck is almost always protein. And it isn't as tasty as corn or some of the other whole grains which is why they invented pelleted feed so that the birds get a balanced diet. For pet chickens, who would care if they laid fewer eggs.

BTW pellets are not reprocessed. They are made using grain, ,alfalfa, and supplements. People that think they can make a "better" feed might make an organic feed or a more costly feed but they are not coming close to having a balanced ration that produces eggs and meat and keeps a chicken healthy.

 

[CanadaEh]

The commercial flocks wouldn't spend the money to formulate feed if whole grains were better or cheaper. To get eggs out of a hen her bottleneck is almost always protein. And it isn't as tasty as corn or some of the other whole grains which is why they invented pelleted feed so that the birds get a balanced diet. For pet chickens, who would care if they laid fewer eggs.

BTW pellets are not reprocessed. They are made using grain, ,alfalfa, and supplements. People that think they can make a "better" feed might make an organic feed or a more costly feed but they are not coming close to having a balanced ration that produces eggs and meat and keeps a chicken healthy.

sorry meant to say Preprocessed (edited now). Point was it is dead and becomes compost as it falls out of the feeder. Whole grain remains grain (or a sprout) for very long once out of the feeder, so there is virtually no waste.

I agree it is 300% easier to feed complete bagged feed than come up with that missing live or fresh protein component.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I use an old dresser drawer, or a big plastic tub they can hop into, kick food about, but it all stays in the tub.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The only issue i have with mash is that if they don’t eat it all, what do you do with it before it molds? And what kind of a feeder besides a bowl can contain it if you have 30+ chickens?

When I was feeding a flock that size.. using a section of plastic rain gutter that was already on scene.. I duct taped the ends to contain spillage. And tied a string around both ends to hang in the covered run for and another was elevated by cinder blocks to correct height. Not very many birds ever stay standing it long term. When I did this was using fermented feed which would get more sour.. I just learn to come close in gauging the amount needed.. For quite some time.. just raising it up defeated rats from taking left over but they eventually found their way down the string.

I really dislike birds standing in the feed or pooping in it.

Actually the worst part about the plastic gutter is that wasn't SUPER large comb friendly.. After all this time.. if I had the resources.. might use something more like the following images taken from google but seen in the goat department locally..

Put someone mentioned a plastic jug.. with the top cut off.. You could also screw that to the wall or fence elevated more even with the back.. It might help keep those insistent ONES from trying to stand inside. There are other ways of mounting things.. but hopefully this helps spawn some ideas that will work for you!