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

[Egg_cited]

My chickens are professional "food wasters" there favorite thing to do is kick all the food out and then eat it off the floor

Wich is fun for them but a hassle for me. One I can't keep cleaning it and two feed cost SO much these days that I can't afford doing that.

The only problem is I have to have a feeder that my severe cross beak hen can eat from. She is about eight months and is thriving but is a little smaller then the rest. She is also one of my biggest problems because she jumps with her whole body into the feeder and digs it all out. She is the most friendliest chicken I have and follows me around so I'm letting her stay in the flock for now until I found somewhere or someone to give her to.

If someone has any advise it would very appreciated!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I used these Little Giant, Gravity Barrel Feeders.
This one holds 60lbs of feed. I have another that holds 45lbs.

 

[LizzzyJo]

My wasting problems were solved when I lifted and hung the feeder. It is hung to where the girls can eat with bent heads just below their chins. The banties stand on a little split log I have for them (booster seat).

They can't get their feet in it = much less waste.

 

[AnnPann]

I have used these and they work well to minimize the mess. They can still sometimes use their beaks to dig around, but def can't get in them to scratch! Mine are rentacoop brand, but I've seen lots of versions from other brands that are basically the same.

 

[Yardmom]

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.

 

[FunClucks]

I have two of these for up to 20 chickens and love them. They work great for large fowl adults. Can be made to work for adolescent chicks, I'd say at least 2 lbs of weight.

https://ratproofchickenfeeder.net/feeders/

 

[RojoMarz]

I have two of these for up to 20 chickens and love them. They work great for large fowl adults. Can be made to work for adolescent chicks, I'd say at least 2 lbs of weight.

https://ratproofchickenfeeder.net/feeders/

I also have a ratproof feeder. It works and is so much better than finding rodents in the "bucket" based feeders.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I put feed in a quality dresser drawer. They can hop inside and kick the food, but it stays inside.
I have also used plastic baby bath tubs.
I have used plastic tubs, and mice jump in but cannot jump out. I think the hens get to them before I do though.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm a fan of the traditional hanging metal feeder.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/in-praise-of-the-traditional-hanging-feeder.1452899/

That said,

If you're feeding a crossbeak it's probably impossible to have a no-waste feeder of any type.