Daily rounds

[raingarden]

I feed twelve pens by hand into a bowl twice each day and try to give them only as much as they will clean up before the next round. Monitoring their feed intake is useful information.

 

[Sally PB]

My biggest pet peeve is the amount of feed 'dust' that accumulates in their feeders. I feel like half of my feed bag winds up turning to dust. I am frequently removing all the dust from the feeders so the pellets can fit. Not sure if there is a use for feed dust but it fills a large container and i wind up throwing it away. Any tips?

When I get a buildup of dust at the bottom of the feeder I dump it into a dish, wet it into mash, and the chickens think I'm giving them a treat.

I save all the dust/bits in a bin. In the afternoon, I do what @3KillerBs and @U_Stormcrow do, and wet some into a mash. Very little waste. I can dress this up with kitchen scraps. It can be warm in the winter and cold in the summer. In extreme heat or cold, I add some (1/4 teaspoon) probiotics to the dry before adding water.

I put out feed in the morning, make mash "chickie snack" mid-afternoon, and use those though black rubber bowls from TSC. I remove all food and water at night, so as not to attract any mice or other critters.

 

[Kandypeeps05]

My system allows me to only feed them once every 3-4weeks (I have 24 birds eating one 50lb bag plus they free range). Depending on how many birds and the type of feeder you use affect how often you feed them.

I’m just worried about feeder contamination I guess

 

[Brooks_]

In much moister environments, crumble can be an issue, pellets might perform better. A

A good consideration. I've had no issues with crumble and Florida humidity, but rain forest level moisture could be different

 

[3KillerBs]

A good consideration. I've had no issues with crumble and Florida humidity, but rain forest level moisture could be different

Different feeders feed pellets or crumble more or less effectively. I have some that feed crumble best, others that feed pellets best, and one that has more waste no matter which I use.

 

[Brooks_]

Different feeders feed pellets or crumble more or less effectively. I have some that feed crumble best, others that feed pellets best, and one that has more waste no matter which I use.

I've noticed that in a way too. One feeder dispenses the crumble better than the other even though they look identical. I've not tried pellet in either. I don't think I get much waste except from a squirrel. Some reason the chickens don't go after them. Too quick?

 

[3KillerBs]

I've noticed that in a way too. One feeder dispenses the crumble better than the other even though they look identical. I've not tried pellet in either. I don't think I get much waste except from a squirrel. Some reason the chickens don't go after them. Too quick?

My one feeder -- unfortunately the really BIG one -- doesn't have enough rolled lip so the birds beak out more than I like to see even with it hung as high as is reasonable.

But that's the one I keep inside the big coop. Since it's dry in there I can just refuse to fill it until they clean up.

 

[neo71665]

I fill my feeders once a week. Mine are 2 of the diy no waste 5 gallon bucket feeders

 

[Brooks_]

I feed twelve pens by hand into a bowl twice each day and try to give them only as much as they will clean up before the next round. Monitoring their feed intake is useful information.

That is good for those with a vested interest. Mine gets topped off daily. Every other or third day may take a couple of scoops.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

My biggest pet peeve is the amount of feed 'dust' that accumulates in their feeders. I feel like half of my feed bag winds up turning to dust. I am frequently removing all the dust from the feeders so the pellets can fit. Not sure if there is a use for feed dust but it fills a large container and i wind up throwing it away. Any tips?