Food on coop floor

[jjfab]

I'm new to chickens. I have a small mixed flock of eight 4 week olds. There outside in the coop with a bulb since I'm on the gulf coast. I have the feeder sitting up on 2x4s so it is above the pine shavings. The chickens still manage to fill it up with shavings most days. They always leave some food at the bottom. I've been emptying it directly into the coop floor before refilling it so it does not go to waste. Is this a bad idea?
Also, when should I start putting some DE in the shavings to prevent mites. The feed store said not to worry about it until the chicks are 3-4 months old. Is this right?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Barrdwing]

If they're outside, I'd be a little uneasy about allowing feed to build up on the floor. It's one thing if they're being really good about eating up all the leftovers, but if they aren't, that feed could lure in roaches, rodents, or wild birds. All of these are undesirable. It is a nuisance when the chicks dump bedding into the feeder! Is there any way of putting the feeder up higher?

Regarding diatomaceous earth and mites: unless the chicks came with mites (unlikely), they probably are not having issues with them at this young age. If you see mites on the birds, of course, that's different. DE is OK so long as you don't breathe it, and I wouldn't recommend eating too much of it. I don't think it would hurt them, but I have never used it on birds that young.