Feeder height

[Wonky Pronk]

How high should I hang my feeder off the ground?

 

[redneck farmer]

Well when I had a hanging feeder a hung it at the height of my smallest birds chest ( where the neck an chest meat)
But I do recommend you think hard about a hanging feeder.... When I had one it was a MESS

 

[wsmith]

I'm not a fan of hanging feeders. As redneck farmer stated, they can cause messes.

I place my plastic feeders on scrap 2 x 4 pieces at about mid chest height. With the chicks, the feeders start out directly on the ground or floor level. At about 2-3 weeks, they go on one layer of 2 x 4 scrap (about 1 1/2 inches high), and then taller, adding layers as the chicks grow and mature. For my mature hens, the feeders are on bases about 6 inches off the ground. When I have mixed sizes eating from the same feeder, I place a couple of wood pieces on the ground for the short ones to stand on.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

All of my feeders hang. I think they work better that way.

Feeder height should be just about the level of their backs or a trifle higher. They should have to reach up slightly to get at the feed.

If you are using a tube feeder where the flow gap (the distance between the tube and the pan) can be adjusted then tighten it up so that the feed flows just enough to cover the bottom of the pan as the birds are feeding. You don't want a lot of depth of feed in the pan because that makes it easier to beak it out onto the ground. With mash and crumbles types of feeds once it hits the dirt the birds often won't eat it. Pelleted feeds they will usually pick up off the ground.

 

[LoneOak]

Hanging feeders are the best in my opinion also. If they are making a mess with it then it is too low. I hang mine about neck high like others here and there is very little waste.

What make feed get wasted is if the birds are able to swing their heads side to side while stirring up the feed. If the feeder is high enough then all they can do is reach the feed and not knock it from side to side spilling it out of the feeder. If their wasting feed raise the feeder a little at a time.

Their must be something good about hanging feeders because they hae been making and using them for years. It is much like double wall galvanized waters, I see people here that say they have problems with them, well why have they been making them and using them for years and years. I know where their is one that belonged to my grandfather in the 30s and 40s and I have a cousin that still uses it with no problems what so ever!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

After trying different types of feeders, I have gone to all hanging ones. I try to keep them about back height. If they're too low the birds will rake out the feed with their feet and/or beaks.

I feed my hens pellets, seems they make less mess with them.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

My rule of thumb is the height of the shortest chicken's back. I like the feeders with the spokes in the tray, to keep them from billing out feed.