DIY Creep Feeder for chicks

[WishingStar]

Has anyone built a creep to give chicks access to more food/different food from the rest of the flock? I'm currently using a pallet with hardware cloth over it; they were grazing trays, but the ends fall off. It currently fits chicks roughly 10 weeks and under.


9 week babies getting close to outgrowing. I'm thinking to try stacking two pallets so they can squeeze in and then have standing room. Also can work as a hide.


Pollyanna cannot reach if the feed is in the middle. She's 25 weeks.

 

[thecatumbrella]

It took me a moment to figure out what was going on, but this is really cool! I've seen things like this for dogs/cats that I believe are called exclusion feeders. Same concept.

Is this to keep the littles from getting pushed off the goodies by the bigger chickens?

 

[WishingStar]

It took me a moment to figure out what was going on, but this is really cool! I've seen things like this for dogs/cats that I believe are called exclusion feeders. Same concept.

It was tricky figuring out what photo angles worked best.

Is this to keep the littles from getting pushed off the goodies by the bigger chickens?

Yes.

Everyone's diet is heavily forage based (I have 2 acres for them; half is forest, half is open) so when I put out food in the afternoon it turns into a feeding frenzy. This let's the littles get away from the bigs, where they could be at risk of injury, and ensures they get their fill.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Mine was a crate with wooden slats far enough apart that the chicks could get in but the older ones could not. The food was far enough in that the hens could not reach it by sticking their heads in.

I've used it with a broody hen raising very small chicks so the chicks could eat when I first let them out in the morning. The broody could not eat but she would still take her chicks to it when I first let them out. It does not stop the chicks firm eating the adults' feed, just lets them eat without the adults bothering them.

I did not need to do this, the chicks would have gotten plenty to eat anyway. I was just playing around to see what would happen.