DIY large feeder and waterer ideas.

[PippinTheChicken]

I'm looking for a BIG feeder and waterer, because with more birds, my feeders are emptying faster.
I've seen people use large bucket bins and nipples or drinking cups for waterers, so that's my waterer plan.
All of the DIY feeders involve another large bucket bin, and pipe. Is there a way to do it without pipe?

Thanks in advance for your ideas and suggestions

 

[NatJ]

How big of a feeder are you looking for? Have you considered buying the kind sold for large flocks?

I'm thinking of the ones that look like this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Miller-Mfg-Hanging-Poultry-Feeder-Tubes/16629543
https://www.hogslat.com/40-lb-hanging-chicken-feeder-galvanized

The examples I found hold 40 pounds of feed! (40 pounds = 18 kg)

If you hang it so the lip of the trough is level with the chickens' backs, they usually do not waste too much feed with that style.

I used one like that in the past, to feed 50 adult chickens, and I felt that it was easy to refill, and held "enough" food at a time. I think it could go several days between refills (for the flock I had then), but I usually scooped some more into the top every day or so because that was convenient for me at the time.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

How big of a feeder are you looking for? Have you considered buying the kind sold for large flocks?

I'm thinking of the ones that look like this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Miller-Mfg-Hanging-Poultry-Feeder-Tubes/16629543
https://www.hogslat.com/40-lb-hanging-chicken-feeder-galvanized

The examples I found hold 40 pounds of feed! (40 pounds = 18 kg)

If you hang it so the lip of the trough is level with the chickens' backs, they usually do not waste too much feed with that style.

I used one like that in the past, to feed 50 adult chickens, and I felt that it was easy to refill, and held "enough" food at a time. I think it could go several days between refills (for the flock I had then), but I usually scooped some more into the top every day or so because that was convenient for me at the time.

I've looked into those. But the price is quite high, whilst a big bucket is cheaper.

 

[NatJ]

I've looked into those. But the price is quite high, whilst a big bucket is cheaper.

Yes, that can definitely be a problem.

All of the DIY feeders involve another large bucket bin, and pipe. Is there a way to do it without pipe?

I think you do need the pipe, or something else that works the same way.

If you just put feed in the bucket and leave the top open, the chickens eat from the top, throw out feed, poop in it, and cannot reach the feed when the bucket starts to get empty (unless they sit in the bucket.) Of course that's why people came up with better methods

If you make holes near the bottom and do not use the pipe, the feed falls out through the holes.

The pipe makes it so the chickens can stick their heads in to reach the feed, but the feed cannot come out the holes. I think it does have to be something sturdy, and the right size and shape, to work right. PVC pipe is available to many people, not too expensive, and comes in the right dimensions-- which is why it's so popular.

You might be able to cut pieces out of some kind of plastic container, but it does need to be sturdy enough that the feed in the bucket will not crush it, and of course you need to be able to attach it to the bucket somehow. I suggest you look at every plastic thing that will get thrown away in your house, and see if you find ones that could work. Maybe a round jar? (If you turn it on its side, attach the mouth of the jar to the side of the bucket, and cut out the bottom side to let the chickens reach down into the food.)

I'll be watching to see if anyone else suggests an alternative to the pipe, because I'm curious too.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Yesterday my feeder and waterer cups arrived.
Today, my buckets.

I'll show you when it's done!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PLASTIC-BU...70&sprefix=3x+25+litres+bucket,aps,186&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Automatic-...=chicken+waterer+diy+cups+blue,aps,495&sr=8-2
(I got 6)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicken-Au...5&sprefix=chicken+feeder+diy+,aps,1033&sr=8-3

 

[junior67]

thats what I have for food and water! LOVE THEM!!!!!!!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

The chickens are quite confused on how they work. One hen, the smarter hybrid hen, figured it out. But my silkies and bantams.... They're nit so smart, but they'll figure it out soon.

 

[junior67]

The chickens are quite confused on how they work. One hen, the smarter hybrid hen, figured it out. But my silkies and bantams.... They're nit so smart, but they'll figure it out soon.

mine were the same with the feeder. It seemed to take them forever! I left their other feeder in there for a bit but with not a ton of food so they would run out. I also pulled the feed to the front of the tube until they figured it out. They have the hang of it now and I have a small one for the babies so at least the babies grow up knowing how to use it. haahaa!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

mine were the same with the feeder. It seemed to take them forever! I left their other feeder in there for a bit but with not a ton of food so they would run out. I also pulled the feed to the front of the tube until they figured it out. They have the hang of it now and I have a small one for the babies so at least the babies grow up knowing how to use it. haahaa!

I still had one in there but I took it out, then I saw one of my silkies eating out of the new one. Their feeder gets returned once they can confidently use the new one.