Chickens wasting food + need ideas for feeders that don't spill please

[MysteryChicken]

I have the opportunity to borrow one of these but you are the only one i can find with this same one. Thoughts? Pros cons? Sell it to me lol I don't know how to make a new thread or message you from my phone so a reply it is lol

The feeders are great, it's pretty good at preventing food wasters, but one may figure out how to do it anyways.

 

[5.3acredream]

I've always liked building 5 gallon bucket feeders with eye-bolts that hang through holes on the bottom with a wine cork as the toggle. I suspend it so the chickens peck at the wine cork, causing feed to fall down. It's a lot of trial and error to size the hole so feed falls but not too much.

Your mileage may vary, but it has always entertained my chickens and they eat the food that falls. I like to think it works with their innate desire to hunt and peck BUT every once and a while, there is one chicken that is legitimately entertaining itself by pecking the cork and suddenly you have a food mound.

That being said, my flock is expanding and I will be trying out a tote with small elbows installed. If it doesn't work, I'll just add another 5 gallon eye-bolt feeder.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I've always liked building 5 gallon bucket feeders with eye-bolts that hang through holes on the bottom with a wine cork as the toggle. I suspend it so the chickens peck at the wine cork, causing feed to fall down. It's a lot of trial and error to size the hole so feed falls but not too much.
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Your mileage may vary, but it has always entertained my chickens and they eat the food that falls. I like to think it works with their innate desire to hunt and peck BUT every once and a while, there is one chicken that is legitimately entertaining itself by pecking the cork and suddenly you have a food mound.

That being said, my flock is expanding and I will be trying out a tote with small elbows installed. If it doesn't work, I'll just add another 5 gallon eye-bolt feeder.
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I was going to make one of these this weekend! It's such a great idea, since chickens love to work for their food.

 

[MichaelDJ]

Another possibility is to get the do it yourself ports to put in buckets from rentacoop or many other sellers on Amazon. The ones I got were 3 inch holes. They work great for my hens but I will need to get larger ones for my roosters.

That's what I did and it made a huge difference in the amount of waste.