Fermented feed feeder

[Lacy Blues]

This is a fantastic idea! I will dwell on construction possibilities. I have a pretty bad mouse problem in my barn even though I feed morning and evening and then clean up whatever is left. I don't leave it for the mice to finish off. It sure would make my life easier to not have to clean up but I don't want a constant source of feed for the mice either. It would also free me up to go somewhere for a day or two.

 

[RichnSteph]

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

Egads that's a great looking little feeder you have there. Materials list? I'm wondering if one of these could be built with two or three access points for the hens to eat out of.

RichnSteph

 

[hennible]

Totally could! You just need really good quality silicone ( marine silicone works the best ) because it's going to be bearing some weight, PVC elbows and a bucket...and lid.
I cut my buckets with an exacto knife because they're very flexible pliable plastic, but you could probably use a holesaw if you use a more rigid bucket.
I think I explained it best in the original post...

 

[hennible]

Well the inferior silicon got me again....
It's holding well on one feeder, but today when I mixed up a batch inside one of the buckets the warm water seem to brake the silicone seal and I had to build another feeder.... Or perhaps it was this crack I found after taking it apart

Either way marine silicon is the best to use but this one pictured below is ok...

The 25 year stuff hardly held for 3 days...

 

[armorfirelady]

I wonder if you wrapped the bucket and PVC pipe with heating tape, like they use on pipes, if that would keep it unfrozen?

 

[hennible]

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.    

Ooh I need to make one of those

I wonder if you wrapped the bucket and PVC pipe with heating tape, like they use on pipes, if that would keep it unfrozen?

Wonder the same thing.... I think it could work... And maybe one string and tape could do more than one bucket....

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

Well the inferior silicon got me again....
It's holding well on one feeder, but today when I mixed up a batch inside one of the buckets the warm water seem to brake the silicone seal and I had to build another feeder.... Or perhaps it was this crack I found after taking it apart

Either way marine silicon is the best to use but this one pictured below is ok...

The 25 year stuff hardly held for 3 days...

Another poster made me think about this when asking about multiple PVC pipes to allow more chickens to feed at once...
Wouldn't (say 3 or 4) smaller pipes reduce the weight on the PVC, possibly allowing it to last longer? I love this idea and will likely try it myself!

 

[hennible]

Another poster made me think about this when asking about multiple PVC pipes to allow more chickens to feed at once...
Wouldn't (say 3 or 4) smaller pipes reduce the weight on the PVC, possibly allowing it to last longer? I love this idea and will likely try it myself!

That's a great thought... Next rebuild ( fingers crossed no more rebuilds ) or in the spring I want to try that out... My flocks always growing so I'll need more feeders. I'd also like to test out a chick sized one... A lot of people seem to have their checks falling into the FF and getting all dirty so I thought the feeder might cure that...
I've also been thinking about a bigger one garbage can size maybe with multiple ports....

 

[Lacy Blues]

Is the feed like water in that the level inside the bucket is the level in the port?

Also, if you use a garbage can to make one next year, (and I'm sure you know this, but for those who may not) be sure to use a plastic or rubber can as a metal one will corrode under the influence of the fermenting feed and you'll have that in your birds' feed.

 

[hennible]

Is the feed like water in that the level inside the bucket is the level in the port?

Also, if you use a garbage can to make one next year, (and I'm sure you know this, but for those who may not) be sure to use a plastic or rubber can as a metal one will corrode under the influence of the fermenting feed and you'll have that in  your birds' feed. 

No, the level of the feed can be all the way to the top of the bucket, and the port only fills to its top... If the feed is too runny you have to get the lid on really fast or it will overflow and if it's too thick it won't fill into the port fast enough for the birds ...there's a magic consistency. I have to add water every few days to keep it flowing, as the feeds not fully ripe and it tends to soak up the water and get a little too dry as the days go by...
It works a lot like the dog waterers you can get

Please overlook the fact that my dogs water is empty

Yeah I would definitely use a plastic garbage can, not to galvanize one that sounds like a recipe for disaster...