Chickens won't eat from protected feed?

[docdubz]

My chickens refuse to eat if their feed is placed in anything that prevents them from spilling it. If it is in a protected feeder they just fill it with straw and then ignore it. Any ideas on how to correct this? They waste at least half of their feed if it is given to them openly so I need to figure this out.

 

[Gallinarium]

It may be hard for them to eat. Pictures?

 

[neo71665]

What feeder are you trying to train them to use?

 

[docdubz]

What feeder are you trying to train them to use?

The two foot long covered feeder with two rows of holes that tractor supply usually has in stock. The holes in the cover are definitely big enough for them to reach in. But they just fill it with straw instead of eating. If I leave the cover open they will eat without covering the feed but wind up spilling half and will not eat anything that is spilled. They won't eat anything, not even treats, unless it is in the feed tray with the cover open.

I'm not sure what to do about it. I wouldn't mind but they are wasting an awful lot of feed.

 

[MarkJr]

I’d start with a 24 hour fast.....no free range option either.

 

[neo71665]

look up the no waste diy bucket feeder on here. IMHO best feeder out there

Here it is:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...lon-25-feed-bucket-feeder-for-about-3.834227/

They can't get in it to drag trash in it, also can't drag feed out and scatter it all over.

 

[Acre4Me]

We use an inexpensive hanging feeder - can find in any feed store. We use a 7lb size. Hang it at back height...if they are chicks, then use a chain so you can adjust height as they grow. These types of feeders have "fins" across the feeding tray to prevent the birds scraping the feed side to side. They also have a lip around the inside edge to prevent bill-out. This works well for us and is easy to clean with only a top piece and bottom piece that are easy to separate to clean.

If you need to do something more quickly, then put the feeder up on some blocks, so they cannot get it covered in straw. If they might move it off the blocks secure it with bungee cords, or zip ties in some manner. Some people put a tray below the feeder to catch the feed that is tossed out of the feeder, and the birds can eat those pieces if they choose.

Feed is to $$ to waste half of it!

Good Luck

 

[Al Gerhart]

Sounds like the birds are eating out of a chick tray and scratching the litter over the feeders. The hanging feeders will work for awhile, so will the plastic bucket DIY feeders. Eventually you will start losing feed to wild birds and rodents though. Still, till they find you, they will work fine.

 

[Sonya9]

My chickens refuse to eat if their feed is placed in anything that prevents them from spilling it. If it is in a protected feeder they just fill it with straw and then ignore it. Any ideas on how to correct this? They waste at least half of their feed if it is given to them openly so I need to figure this out.

If you hang the feeders or put them on blocks off the ground they won't kick stuff into it.

I have also used large pans under their dish to catch the spilled feed, they either eat it out of the pan or it gets poured back into the dish/feeder.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

How old are your birds ? I use the red and white one that TSC sells as well as most of the feed stores. I have had great success with it ..the key for our no spill feed is to hang it so they have to stretch their necks to eat from it..as they grow raise it higher until they are old enough to not make a mess of the food.