Fermented feed feeder

[BriardChickens]

Will do... I hope it works. Or I'll be switching to dry feed for the winter. I absolutely need to keep the water open for the ducks.... Not sure if a cookie tin heater is going to be enough in -30...

I wonder the same.. located in Northern Alberta. Usually by February/March our temperatures drop to -30. The last few years those temperatures lasted anywhere from a week to a month long.

Hennible, do you turn on heat lamps or similar in those temperatures?

 

[hennible]

I do, but I may stop and only heat food and water. We will see, at those temps the lamps don't do much and I'm thinking that warm water and food would be a better use of my electricity. What do you think about running lamps? I'm a bit indecisive right now.

 

[BriardChickens]

I think the heated water is a brilliant idea just not sure if the tin can is enough or if I should invest into a hanging plug in heated water fountain. our humidity is so low, if it wasn't for the cold temperatures you'd think we are in the dessert. I am not concerned about coop humidity at this point in time.

I think for the winter I might get a ceramic heat lamp and take it day by day. Or maybe put a timer on it that it only comes on at night. I still need to figure out the water issue. Fermened feed may have to wait until spring, my flock has been getting "dry food" and sprouts every few days. What they don't know they won't miss!?

 

[hennible]

Yeah day by day... Just need want something easy for the ducks.... I don't want to be hauling water to the coop a few times a day... But I will if I must. I like the heated fountains... Don't know if they make a duck friendly version. :/

 

[hennible]

Something I learned from the broken feeder...
If the silicone seal has holes, breaks or is just plain bad, the feeder doesn't work well. You need that air seal no keep the food flowing into the pipe.
( is that the right form of the word "seal"... Dyslexia has got me on this one :/ )

 

[hennible]

Birds have decided they love the food and feeder, now I am making two more feeders. Think I will use a heated base for the feed ( same as you buy for water ) as suggested by another member. Also going to give those ago to keep the water open.

 

[LindaB220]

Birds have decided they love the food and feeder, now I am making two more feeders. Think I will use a heated base for the feed ( same as you buy for water ) as suggested by another member. Also going to give those ago to keep the water open.

Great job!!!

I put my horizontal nipple bucket in the coop today. I left a little water in also, but I'll be watching tomorrow. I NEED to make one o these.

 

[RichnSteph]

That's a great idea! I was going to build the bucket feeder for our chicks but decided to use FF instead and had just settled on the fact that I'd have to feed every morning and evening. This feeder or yours would make my mornings much more enjoyable since I'd be able to sleep a little later. Once I get power run out to the coop so I can put in a heater I'll see about building a FF bucket.

Thanks!
RichnSteph

 

[hennible]

Can't wait to hear how it works for you.

 

[hennible]

Just had an idea I'd like to share
Now I can't literally make FF in the feeder buckets, I make it in another bucket, get it all soft and then I dump it into the feeder buckets... But today I realized if I had an end cap for the PVC piece I could make it right in the bucket in the sink without the water overflowing out the PVC neck... One less step!

On second thought I think I can make a batch in the feeder without an end cap....

A few minutes later

Couple more minutes

So I tried it out and obviously if you don't overfill it doesn't overflow, a full bucket of feed is too much with the water anyway... so this is about three quarters full and it will fluff up quite nicely with the water and fill the bucket up...
I still sort of want an in Just because it would feel like it was more finished

I'm also really happy to say that the birds are loving the FF and their poops are nicer and the ducks are not back washing feed into the water quite so much with the wet food... it's great