Chickens Wasting food!!!

[ChickenClaire]

My chickens like to fling food all over the ground.(a natural chicken behavior, no doubt) I've tried putting bricks under the feeder and trash bags under the feeder but they still end up wasting half of their food... Should I get a hanging feeder or is there another option?
Thanks!!
ChickenClaire

 

[drumstick diva]

A hanging feeder will prevent them from kicking the feed out but I am sure they will find another way to mess up or waste it. Maybe they are just tossing things that they don't like.. & would be happier eating something else.

 

[ChickenClaire]

I don't think that's why because we give them plenty of treats ( watermelon, grapes, peaches, seeds, mealworms, etc. ) but they toss those around too...

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[Menmyrc]

Yep, normal chicken behavior! Our feeders are 5-gallon buckets with 1" holes around the bottom. The bucket is bolted onto a large planter saucer for the food tray. Ours were flinging the food that was in the tray portion out so they could eat the food as it came out the holes. It was actually quite amusing to watch but the food bill was incredible! We raised the feed buckets up on concrete blocks until they were so high that the hens are just barely able to reach the food. This has, for the most part, stopped this behavior. I'm sure they would start again if we ever lower the buckets back down! Ours get a lot of scraps, etc., but even so, the food flinging was always an issue!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[ChickenClaire]

Thanks you guys!

 

[gypsy767]

Please post a pic of the 5 gallon bucket with catch platter underneath...mine doing same thing...
Thanks...!

 

[ChickenClaire]

Yeah, I would like to see a pic!

 

[daisychicken]

They will dig in their food for the "best parts of the food", but if you leave it they might eat it off the ground later. Mine chickens do the same thing.