Chickens wasting food, need help.

[Toothpick]

Hello All,

Are there any resources here or photos of no waste feeders? Or anyone care to share what you use? I have the basic feeder from TSC and I even built a PVC feeder and I’m wasting a load of food. They are “billing” (?) I think is the term. Where they shovel it out with their beak to the ground and then just leave it. I’ve got food all around where I feed them on the ground and it looks like a whole lot is being wasted.

So what should I do here?

Thanks!

 

[blackdog043]

Here's my no waste feeder,. After the first one or two figure it out they all took to it. Some of us use buckets, some use totes or whatever works for them. Do a search for no waste feeder and the thread will come up.
I found the link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...lon-25-feed-bucket-feeder-for-about-3.834227/

 

[RUNuts]

I'm using one similar & don't have issues. Easy to make. Most expensive thing is the hole saw.

 

[member 373180]

I built the same sort of thing with a tote. No waste at all. No wet feed, and I only have to fill them about once a week.
You can see one in the back of this picture of my watering bucket.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Not sure how they would take to it I went the super cheap route.


This is what I started with. Simple holes around the bottom of the bucket that were supposed to drop feed into the pan.
I constantly had to shake the bucket and the chickens loved to shovel it out of the pan onto the floor.


Using the same bucket and some empty Gatorade bottles I made a feeder they have to stick their head into. I don't have to shake the bucket and they can't shovel with their beaks anymore.

So the same basic feeder others have suggested. Just the recycled cheapo version. LOL

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

2 questions:

1. What is your feed? I mixed scratch with normal feed once and they raked the feed out on the ground to get to the scratch. Never again will I do that.
2. Is your PVC feeder built with a 45-degree Y-fitting? I think it's easier to rake food out of those than from a 90-degree elbow

 

[tigger19687]

FYI, I just sat and watch my F*(&#@$*&^#@ hens bill out food. Turns out there are some Corn pieces and they shovel it out to get to them. Half my shavings are now crumbles and shavings.

They can stay in the coop till 10 am now till they clean up their mess !

I have the PVC with the Y, just put some duct tape on the bottom 1/4 and hope that helps. I wanted these to save space but I may just make a No Spill from a 5 gal bucket.

 

[blackdog043]

I may just make a No Spill from a 5 gal bucket.

Take the plunge, you will never regret it! Use a gamma lid for easy refilling.

 

[Naser]

Use pellets, this is the least feed they will scatter as they don't have the option to pick what they like, in the beginning they will not like them, but then they will, if you are worried you can start with starter crumbles they like it, then move to grower then to laying hens pellets

 

[farmerbrowne]

Mine all ways seem to leave the soy meal and miss the added protein