Concern About Automatic Chicken Feeders

[LyleVertigo]

I've had this large capacity automatic chicken feeder as an advanced measure in case rats manage to breach my defenses.
So far, that hasn't happened, but I noticed something while I have them eating from it during the trial stages.

Sometimes when one is feeding another will jump up on the moving lid. If the trainer bolts weren't in place the lid would have slammed on the neck of any that were feeding. Has anyone experienced this problem? The only thing I can think of is taking some 1/2" wire mesh and overlap it on top of the two side shields so that it covers the lid and keeps them from putting weight on it. I don't have a welder but I figure if I over size it a bit I can just zip tie the sides well enough to hold it in place in case one or more jumps on it.

 

[LyleVertigo]

This is what I did. It's stiff but not stiff enough to prevent sagging in the middle but at least when weight is put on it will not shut the lid down all the way, allowing any with their necks in to keep their heads.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Good post.

This type of feeder is called a guillotine style feeder for this very reason and you have come up with an excellent modification. You might add something like a 1/2" metal conduit or just a 1" square strip of wood to stiffen things up at the front.

The other dangers include the pinch points and the side guards. The picture below was found on a review site and had come originally from the Amazon listing. I think it was the Rent a Coop listing but it has been a few months since I ran across the photo. Pinch points are a huge no no for designers. All of the Chinese made guillotine style feeders like the Grandpa, the Rent a Coop, and the many duplicates are of the same general design.

The other danger points are the holes punched in the wide treadle step, sharp edges inside the holes waiting to cut the toes that find their way into the holes trying to grasp the flat surface. A narrow step works far better, natural to grasp in their claws instead of trying to stand flatfooted on an angled surface and the wood is safer during freezing weather.

An inward swinging door removes the danger your post illustrated but it is possible for a bird to get trapped if she is eating from the side and the hen on the treadle jumps off. Her head is at an angle and will be pushed out but if she is crooking her neck to get into the corner, it is possible to get trapped. The best defense is not the side guards which bring their own risk, but placing two milk jugs filled with sand or dirt to block off the side access and force the hens to come in from the front.

 

[LyleVertigo]

Thanks for the tips. I see now what I can do to cover all those danger points and will be a quick fix.