Hanging Feeder Humidity, HELP!

[thecatumbrella]

I use plastic hanging feeders with bird baffles over the top (photos attached of my exact products). The baffles provide several inches of air gap. All of this is under a roofed run. Not a drop of water touches the feeders.

HOWEVER, every time the humidity shoots up (like when it rains), the food retains moisture. The feeder itself looks dry, but I can feel it when I pinch crumble between my fingers (and it easily breaks down into dust.)

Has anyone else dealt with this? What the heck am I supposed to do? I'm currently testing one of the feeders without a baffle to see if that's causing the problem.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

I use plastic hanging feeders with bird baffles over the top (photos attached of my exact products). The baffles provide several inches of air gap. All of this is under a roofed run. Not a drop of water touches the feeders.

HOWEVER, every time the humidity shoots up (like when it rains), the food retains moisture. The feeder itself looks dry, but I can feel it when I pinch crumble between my fingers (and it easily breaks down into dust.)

Has anyone else dealt with this? What the heck am I supposed to do? I'm currently testing one of the feeders without a baffle to see if that's causing the problem.

I keep my birds in a greenhouse type structure and haven't had any problems with this. I use the feeder in the 2nd picture for all my pens. Could it have something to do with the type of feed you are using? Another thing would be if you wouldn't give them quite so much feed at one time. I usually feed mine once a day but I like them to be able to snack during the day. I feed Nutrena.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

Here in SC its been raining almost once a day and then some and humidity has been souring.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I keep my birds in a greenhouse type structure and haven't had any problems with this. I use the feeder in the 2nd picture for all my pens. Could it have something to do with the type of feed you are using? Another thing would be if you wouldn't give them quite so much feed at one time. I usually feed mine once a day but I like them to be able to snack during the day. I feed Nutrena.

I'm using Nutrena chick crumble. It sits in an airtight container in my basement, where I run a dehumidifier, so I know it's bone dry going out to the pen. Thankfully, I've never filled the feeder more than 1/4 full. I'm still wasting so much feed with this issue.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm using Nutrena chick crumble. It sits in an airtight container in my basement, where I run a dehumidifier, so I know it's bone dry going out to the pen. Thankfully, I've never filled the feeder more than 1/4 full. I'm still wasting so much feed with this issue.

I think your only option for now, since you're using crumbles, is what Sc_chickengirl suggested: just load it with one day's worth of feed at a time.

I have a whole grain type feed in a hanging feeder (backup to their mash), and I haven't had this problem. I'm guessing that it's because the crumble is easily, well, crumbled with the combination of humidity and maybe the action of their beaks.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I think your only option for now, since you're using crumbles, is what Sc_chickengirl suggested: just load it with one day's worth of feed at a time.

I can feel my soul leaving my body...
It's been a struggle to make the day-to-day tasks easier (so I can focus on bigger fires, like building a real coop) and this is just another annoying set back. But you're right; it's likely the only way.
I don't remember this happening with our 2023 flock (who had the same setup). I'm starting to think this bantam flock is cursed!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I can feel my soul leaving my body...
It's been a struggle to make the day-to-day tasks easier (so I can focus on bigger fires, like building a real coop) and this is just another annoying set back. But you're right; it's likely the only way.
I don't remember this happening with our 2023 flock (who had the same setup). I'm starting to think this bantam flock is cursed!

Do you go out to let them out of their coop in the mornings, check the waterer, etc.? If so, that's when you dump in the feed. It should work out pretty well.

I'm recovering from a total knee replacement (three weeks ago today, woo-hoo!), and I keep forgetting what things I need to do on a daily basis so that I can combine them in one big trip. Although I'll say that having chickens when your brain is disorganized is a great way to get in lots of steps and move that shiny new joint.

The thing I ALWAYS forget: bring in the scoop holding the feed to start a new jar fermenting. It wasn't so bad when the feed can was right by the house, but we moved it in a (sensible) rearrangement of outside stuff. I feel like such a chucklehead when I have to go up and down the back steps extra times because I forgot this. ("The bad go DOWN, the good go UP" - how you remember which leg to lead with when going downstairs or upstairs.)

 

[thecatumbrella]

Do you go out to let them out of their coop in the mornings, check the waterer, etc.? If so, that's when you dump in the feed. It should work out pretty well.

I'm recovering from a total knee replacement (three weeks ago today, woo-hoo!), and I keep forgetting what things I need to do on a daily basis so that I can combine them in one big trip. Although I'll say that having chickens when your brain is disorganized is a great way to get in lots of steps and move that shiny new joint.

The thing I ALWAYS forget: bring in the scoop holding the feed to start a new jar fermenting. It wasn't so bad when the feed can was right by the house, but we moved it in a (sensible) rearrangement of outside stuff. I feel like such a chucklehead when I have to go up and down the back steps extra times because I forgot this. ("The bad go DOWN, the good go UP" - how you remember which leg to lead with when going downstairs or upstairs.)

Oh my gosh! Knee replacements are brutal. Hope you're able to heal quickly and get back to some semblance of normalcy.

The chickens get at least 3 visits a day, so that's certainly not an issue. It's more about what you were saying: SCATTERBRAIN! We were out of the chicken game for 18 months, so I'm still trying to get back into a routine. I was so excited to finally move to weekly food changeouts, and now it will just be one more thing I have to do and remember each morning.

But of course I'll do it for the little gremlins.