Free choice or not

[junkman56]

Hello all,
I would like to know how you all feed your chickens. I have a large tote with 8 ports around it, I take it out of the coop at night, and return it in the morning, ( free choice ) . My problem is mice, I dont know if I should feed them in the morning before I let them out to free range, or continue to let them eat when they want to. So I would like to know your thoughts, and see some pictures of your feeders.
Thank you in advance.

 

[TooCheep]

A couple of suggestions:
1- I think you should suspend your feeder off the ground rather than on top of blocks. If that plastic tub isn't strong enough for that, then also have a smaller block of bricks underneath that the mice can't use to climb to the holes. You wouldn't have the hassle of moving the feeder twice/day.
2- If the problem is more about pellets being pulled out and scattered into the litter attracting mice, then attach a small plastic shield to cover the lower ~1/4 of each opening. That will keep the chickens from scattering pellets.

 

[junkman56]

Thank you... good pointers

 

[Steven Bussell]

Plus could you use caps to cover your pipes. Sure would make life easier for you

 

[aart]

Are the mice going into the feeder during the day....or....?

 

[junkman56]

Are the mice going into the feeder during the day....or....?

I see them scampering in the evening when I go out to remove the feeder, so I'm thinking they are there during the day also, but I cant be sure. That's why I started removing the feed st night.

 

[aart]

I see them scampering in the evening when I go out to remove the feeder, so I'm thinking they are there during the day also, but I cant be sure. That's why I started removing the feed st night.

I'd start trapping pronto.
Set up snap traps under a milk crate where the chooks can't get at them.

 

[junkman56]

I see the chickens every now and then catching a mice

 

[townchicks]

I free feed mine. We have rats, but they only come out at night, so putting the food away at night is easy. I only have a few chickens, so they just eat out of a dog bowl, and I have a metal canister that the bowl fits in nicely, for night.

 

[aart]

I see the chickens every now and then catching a mice

That's good!
But I'd still set traps.....I've left traps set all over for 20 years, am more vigilant when I see 'sign'.