Feeders and waterers

[ForFlocksSake]

The choices are endless and my head is spinning (newbie here).

I was orginally looking at this for feeding:

https://www.chewy.com/overez-poultr...6HuOfdSO7VD-UHFQDqs-mrKwSwuIUW0BoCnt4QAvD_BwE

and this for water:
https://www.chewy.com/overez-poultr...2csuKd4x6agpM-MkXDlN-CdOL0ulzuJBoCCA8QAvD_BwE

but as I watch videos, read posts and blogs I see so many different ways of feeding. Hanging feeders, smaller feeders. Ive also read some people REMOVE food in the evening? I thought it was supposed to be out all the time?

for reference, we have 6 chicks In the brooder. they will be living in a secure 8x8 pen with coop attached.

 

[EddieSalita]

They don't get up to eat in the night. Removing the food in the evening after they have roosted reduces the attraction to rats, mice and other hungry critters.
They will need their food again at sunrise however. Especially if they are pullets.

 

[Brooks_]

I agree with above as to the why remove at night.

As to the question of type, it's personal. It will depend on your desired management.

 

[nuthatched]

I've considered using this feeder, but the price always kept me from getting it.
It would help in coops with limited floor space.

 

[Al Gerhart]

That plastic feeder costs more than a well made metal treadle feeder! A big no on that choice. And they are rat buffets, just as well make one out of a five gallon bucket and get by till the rodents find you then replace it with a treadle feeder.

Taking in feed at night no doubt helps somewhat but rats will just eat during the day. Some flocks will deal with mice by eating them but rats are big enough that they can intimidate the chickens.

You have plenty of time if your birds are that young. Do your research before spending hard earned money. Be careful of any reviews from sites with affiliate links, they will recommend the feeder that pays the most commission from the link sales, not the best feeder. There is one chicken feeder review site online that other than them being a bit "green" for my tastes they seem to have a good intentions and no affiliate links. You can always tell an affiliate link because there will be the normal URL with the shopping cart web address and their product identifier followed by a string of numbers and or letters. In your plastic feeder link above it has this string of identifiers added:

dp/379129?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=19924296477&utm_content=OverEZ&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAjwsvujBhAXEiwA_UXnAG6T25VhhpjDg8v2Y0BtC96HuOfdSO7VD-UHFQDqs-mrKwSwuIUW0BoCnt4QAvD_BwE

which is the Google link identifier that charges them for clicks that go through to their actual product page which is "https://www.chewy.com/overez-poultry-feeder-50-lbs/"

 

[arazla]

I'm also having trouble choosing a feeder. We had 4 different ones now and none of them really fit the bill. First, we had a small round metal one that you screw a jar into. They never ate out of that. https://www.acehardware.com/departm...ders-and-waterers/75820?store=15778&gclsrc=ds
Then we got a plastic one that is similar. They LOVE this one, but can never all fit around it at the same time. https://www.amazon.com/nomal-Chicke...cphy=9004758&hvtargid=pla-1114764973110&psc=1
Then I got a long rectangular one thinking they could all get to it, but they can't get their beaks through it. https://www.chewy.com/little-giant-...2691112293&utm_content=Little Giant&utm_term=
Finally, I got an adult sized round plastic feeder since they liked the chick sized one, but again, they CANNOT seem to get their beaks past a certain point, so you either have to keep it heaped to the top or just waste a lot of food. Who designs these things? Why is this so challenging? Do my chickens have extra SHORT beaks? Oh yeah, you can just put a dish out, but some of them stand in it and it just gets knocked over, although we occasionally put rocks in a large flat bowl to anchor it down if we're brining a treat.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

That plastic feeder costs more than a well made metal treadle feeder! A big no on that choice. And they are rat buffets, just as well make one out of a five gallon bucket and get by till the rodents find you then replace it with a treadle feeder.

Taking in feed at night no doubt helps somewhat but rats will just eat during the day. Some flocks will deal with mice by eating them but rats are big enough that they can intimidate the chickens.

You have plenty of time if your birds are that young. Do your research before spending hard earned money. Be careful of any reviews from sites with affiliate links, they will recommend the feeder that pays the most commission from the link sales, not the best feeder. There is one chicken feeder review site online that other than them being a bit "green" for my tastes they seem to have a good intentions and no affiliate links. You can always tell an affiliate link because there will be the normal URL with the shopping cart web address and their product identifier followed by a string of numbers and or letters. In your plastic feeder link above it has this string of identifiers added:

dp/379129?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=19924296477&utm_content=OverEZ&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAjwsvujBhAXEiwA_UXnAG6T25VhhpjDg8v2Y0BtC96HuOfdSO7VD-UHFQDqs-mrKwSwuIUW0BoCnt4QAvD_BwE

which is the Google link identifier that charges them for clicks that go through to their actual product page which is "https://www.chewy.com/overez-poultry-feeder-50-lbs/"

Thanks for the detailed reply! I’m definitely going to think it through before I pull the trigger on anything pricey

 

[RojoMarz]

I'm also having trouble choosing a feeder. We had 4 different ones now and none of them really fit the bill. First, we had a small round metal one that you screw a jar into. They never ate out of that. https://www.acehardware.com/departm...ders-and-waterers/75820?store=15778&gclsrc=ds
Then we got a plastic one that is similar. They LOVE this one, but can never all fit around it at the same time. https://www.amazon.com/nomal-Chicke...cphy=9004758&hvtargid=pla-1114764973110&psc=1
Then I got a long rectangular one thinking they could all get to it, but they can't get their beaks through it. https://www.chewy.com/little-giant-flip-top-poultry-ground/dp/318667?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12691112293&utm_content=Little Giant&utm_term=
Finally, I got an adult sized round plastic feeder since they liked the chick sized one, but again, they CANNOT seem to get their beaks past a certain point, so you either have to keep it heaped to the top or just waste a lot of food. Who designs these things? Why is this so challenging? Do my chickens have extra SHORT beaks? Oh yeah, you can just put a dish out, but some of them stand in it and it just gets knocked over, although we occasionally put rocks in a large flat bowl to anchor it down if we're brining a treat.

My girls like this one. I do have it hanging, not sitting on its legs.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I prefer port feeders, zero waste, then when they are low I empty all the fines from the bottom into a rubber feeding dish and fill with water to make a mash and they love it

 

[arazla]

My girls like this one. I do have it hanging, not sitting on its legs.


View attachment 3533243

That one looks possibly doable. Is it very deep? They get their beaks to the bottom? I should have added that my chicks are 13 weeks old as of today so they've also gone through a growing curve. Do you have a link to this one?