Feed Waste & Keeping water clean with chicks - Solutions?

[RivaJam]

I have 13 chicks and use a feeder and waterer like this. It seems like they are wasting so much feed. I filled it last night before bed and I bet 1/2 was all over the paper towels this morning. I don't know how or why with the holes like this - it's not like it's spilling. Are chicks just that messy? I hate that so much goes to waste. A bunch ends up in the water too. Would it help to elevate the feeders some? I have seen that a lot but they are only 1-2 weeks and I'm not sure what to put it on so they can still reach it. TIA!

 

[Tuhmu]

Elevating the waterer would definitely help if not eliminate that problem. As far as the feeder goes, that particular feeder is a notorious food waster.

 

[RivaJam]

Elevating the waterer would definitely help if not eliminate that problem. As far as the feeder goes, that particular feeder is a notorious food waster.

Thanks, what kind of feeder is better at keeping feed contained?

 

[Tuhmu]

For the first couple weeks I use the long flat feeders,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/plastic-flip-top-poultry-feeder/reviews/8773

There's still some waste but none nearly as bad as what you're dealing with. But they are only good for like the first week, after that they start sitting on it and kicking shavings into it.


I'm sure there's better ones out there, I think a lot of people have these bucket feeders that are said to reduce a lot of waste. I don't have one of these yet though.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/plastic-flip-top-poultry-feeder/reviews/8773

Not sure how well that would work for chicks though....since the little stinkers will probably just crawl right in there lol.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Those red bottom jar feeders really suck! The bottom is 2 pieces and sometimes when you invert it after filling it the very bottom falls off and all the food goes on the ground. And when you invert it, it almost empties the jar so what's the point of having the jar on it anyway. The holes are so big small chicks & quail will actually get inside the feeder.
If you set them on a brick it prevents the chicks billing out the feed as bad, and keeps debris out of the water.
I prefer the long flip top ones when feeding more than 2-3 chicks.

 

[jetdog]

I have 13 chicks and use a feeder and waterer like this. It seems like they are wasting so much feed. I filled it last night before bed and I bet 1/2 was all over the paper towels this morning. I don't know how or why with the holes like this - it's not like it's spilling. Are chicks just that messy? I hate that so much goes to waste. A bunch ends up in the water too. Would it help to elevate the feeders some? I have seen that a lot but they are only 1-2 weeks and I'm not sure what to put it on so they can still reach it. TIA!

For my chick feeder like yours I put an eye bolt in the top and used a coat hanger to elevate it, I noticed it swings a little when they use it and gave them less time to fling the food out.

 

[lrlt2000]

I noticed the same problem with my new chicks! First off, they naturally "scratch" the ground for food, so all of that feed that they've spilled out will eventually get eaten. Also, I chose to purchase a metal feeder like yours--plastics are more susceptible to bacterial growth (I know this just from other animal keeping), even if you wash them often. The bacteria gets into the scratches in the plastic surface and can avoid riddance. I just bought the metal bottoms of the feeder and waterer, as glass mason jars fit (and similarly, glass is more sanitary than plastic).

I do wish there was an opening in the bottoms of the jars, as filling and tipping into feeder part proves to be tricky! Like these pet feeders: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healt...id=1398952202&sr=8-5&keywords=dry+food+feeder

As for watering--I have one like yours but metal. I do have to clean it out every day, because they scratch and kick their shavings around and that's how it gets full of crud I haven't tried elevating yet, because they're still in a plastic bin and it's just not easy to rig it up with that setup. When they go out in their coop, I'll figure it out!

 

[lrlt2000]

I found this one on Amazon that's open in the top, so you wouldn't have to do the whole refill-jar-fill-feeder-bottom-get-ready-and-smash-together-hoping-it-all-comes-together-without-dumping magic show! And you can hang it.

http://www.amazon.com/Hanging-Poult...id=1398952468&sr=8-11&keywords=chicken+feeder

 

[Tuhmu]

When I did use those flip ones, I used to like submerge both pieces in the feed, fill it up and try my best to screw it back together in the feed. sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't....

 

[lrlt2000]

When I did use those flip ones, I used to like submerge both pieces in the feed, fill it up and try my best to screw it back together in the feed. sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't....

Now THAT'S a great idea!