Death caused by plastic hanging feeder

[Olive Hill]

I use those in my brooders, with the young ones and have never had a problem but I can see exactly what you mean. The dividers come out into the feed basin where they eat but do not meet the basin at the bottom. I think problems are probably rather rare and it's just a coincidence that you know someone personally who has also had a problem, but you could discontinue use to be safe rather than sorry if you're concerned about future issues with your flock. Your hen may have struggled when she first got stuck and had some internal injuries and that's why she didn't pass until a few days later -- or it could have been completely unrelated.

 

[Brattybiddy]

Hi, Thank you Chris, It was the metal feeder design that was causing the food spillage. That one was hanging. There is less spillage with the hanging plastic feeder.

 

[Leia's Chickens]

I use the metal feeder with the open tray around its perimeter. The height at the same as the height of their backs which is recommended. No feed going on the ground. The right height pretty much resolves that.

ETA - Just realized this is my daughter's login.

 

[lleighmay]

I use a couple of those feeders. I've never had a problem with one getting its beak stuck but I did lose a 5 month old EE pullet last year when she decided to eat out of the top of the feeder. She somehow tipped herself head-down into it and then got her hocks stuck under the wire bail it hangs from. She would probably have been alright had the weather been cooler, but unfortunately by the time I found her she'd apparently had a heat stroke. I haven't had any other problems with them since.... a farmer friend of mine told me sometimes you just have to chalk things up to freak accidents as livestock will try their hardest to find unusual ways to kill themselves....