Food Waste, Messy Chicks

[ThreeOfSeven]

Any suggestions to avoid this food waste? This is what I found this morning. The mason jar was filled yesterday with chick starter, and I have 9 messy eating monsters (1 week old). I told them about proper eating etiquette and that they shouldn't waste food. They don't listen to me.

For boredom, I have a little perch, a couple of sticks, a window to the world, and a dangling Popsicle stick. Maybe I should provide some good reading material? Netflix? Music?

Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Maybe set the dish on top of a brick so it is not so easy to scoop, dig the food out.....

Messy buggers.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Maybe set the dish on top of a brick so it is not so easy to scoop, dig the food out.....

Messy buggers.

I agree with this. They’re most likely making the majority of the mess from digging in it. So by elevating the dish, it should help prevent it.

 

[Msfur08]

Maybe some way to make it so they have to stick their heads into the hole and can’t get their feet in there? Chicks have shorter necks, so nothing real long.

I’m thinking you could cut up a toilet paper roll and adjust it to fit in there. If it’s snug enough, they might not be able to knock it out. Just make sure it’s not too narrow or long for them to get their heads into.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

A brick seemed the easiest solution. We'll see how they handle this.

Note: They emptied another mason jar. Just filled it this morning. <sigh>

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

Check this out - tried it this year and much less waste: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/no-waste-chick-feeder-build.1297528/page-2#post-21148448

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Check this out - tried it this year and much less waste: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/no-waste-chick-feeder-build.1297528/page-2#post-21148448

That's GENIUS! Thank you! I will try that!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Yup I raise all my feeders and waterer's off the ground, even the ones with feet.