DIY chick feeder question

[backyardfarmgirl]

I made a DIY chick feeder patterned off the feeder on this post: Homemade Chick Feeder and just wondered what you thought of it? This will be my first time raising chicks.

I used a vinegar bottle and put a Solo cup in the middle. I liked that the vinegar bottle had a lid that the chickens couldn't climb on.



The holes in the vinegar bottle are about an inch from the bottom and are about 3/4" tall by 1 1/3" wide. I'm trying to make the holes big enough for them to get feed from them but not big enough for them to fall in. Not having had chicks before I have no idea what size to cut. Any recommendations?

I'm also wondering if I should find a larger internal container than the cup as it seems too far from the sides of the vinegar to where the food might not spread far enough.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Wow that's cool

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Good luck

 

[blackdog043]

I would make the holes 1 1/2 x 1 1/2, it should work for a couple weeks, then the holes will probably need to be bigger. Chicks double their size every week. As they get older you will have to place that on a platform, so it's easy for them to get feed.

 

[aart]

That is pretty cool, never seen this one before!

Width of head openings in bottle should be fine,
they might need to be taller tho in time, easy fix.

Don't think the solo cup leaves too much space,
their head needs room inside to peck feed off bottom of bottle.

I do think the holes in the solo cup are too tall,
You want the top of the cup holes to be lower than the bottom of the bottle holes.
Hope that makes sense.

Don't be afraid to modify after it's in use for a time....or even start over.
Hope you have a big brooder because it will take up some floor space.
Oh, question added later......is the solo cup attached the bottle somehow?

ETA: Just checked the dimensions of my chick feeder.
The openings are 1.25" wide and 2.5" tall,
even the pea combed adults can get their heads in there.

 

[lazy gardener]

Personally, I'd put a bigger reservoir in the middle, and make the openings much larger, essentially creating a moat for the feed to fall out into. I'm not fond of "hole style" openings. chicks are incredibly adept at figuring out new and novel ways of committing suicide, and any hole they can find, they will try to get their head or body stuck in it.