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I have that problem too and the chicks aren't tall enough yet (one week old) for me to raise it up high enough so that not so many shavings get in there. They can stick their heads in but can't curve down to really get at the feed. I take it every morning and scoop out most of the shavings and toss them back into the litter then empty the feeder into a tray (one of those black plastic trays that meat comes in from the store) which they love to scratch in...the tray is always empty every morning or night so the scratching helps them get to the food that's mixed in with the shavings and they also eat the fine crumbles that sift down to the bottom of the regular feeder. I'm sure they scratch feed out of the tray into the litter but they scratch in the litter too. The tray has enough of a lip that it doesn't all fly out. Not much pooping going on in it which surprised me and I can't bring myself to take away the tray...it's one of the things that keeps them super-busy! They love it.
I might try putting the feeder up on top of a 2x4 that's big enough for them to stand on while they eat. I did that with the waterer and it works well to keep out the shavings...I stacked two short boards and set it up there. The taller chicks can drink without jumping up on the board and the shorter ones jump up to drink. I sprinkle grit there a couple times of day too and they find it pretty well. A few shavings get into the waterer so I empty it a couple times a day but it doesn't get packed.
Definitely annoying with the shavings in the feeder but the feed volume goes down steadily even with the shavings in there...they manage to find the food somehow! I do pick out shavings a couple times a day because it bugs me:/.
I figure chicks wasting feed is just one of those things I have to deal with. With only 29 chicks and a 50# bag that costs about $12.00, I don't lose any sleep over it at this point
Leah, Army wife, "mom" to one pug, one cat, one pot-bellied pig, one angora rabbit, 7 BO, 7 BR, 7 SS, 4 SLW and 4 LB
