Hanging feeder

[Seaecho]

I want feeders above the ground because of mice and rats. Will the rodents still get to the food? I'm getting pullets maybe 3-6 months old. How high should I hang the feeders for them?

 

[ChickNanny13]

I would say "maybe" ... Mice & rats can climb ... Hanging is to help alleviate scratching in the food, my thought ... The best way to avoid mice/rat issues is removing food at night (chickens don't eat at night) and preventative rodent control.

As for height, it would depend on the size/breed of the chicks; bantams are smaller than the LF but even then they're different heights. Lets wait & see what others have to say...

 

[Smuvers Farm]

We have trough like feeders nailed up at about breast height, and we feed FF daily, so no leftovers to attract vermin. We currently have 10 month old and 9 week old chicks in the run, and they all can reach it... or jump up in to it to eat.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I feed my FF in plastic dog bowls, couple scoops between 7 - 7:30am which they finish up by 2pm & get 2 final scoops. Between 4 - 4:30pm they're done & I toss 1/8cup of scratch/BOSS mix in their enclosure to ease my guilt. There's never leftovers overnight, less attraction for mice/rats/mongoose.

Before fermenting the feed, fed dry & removed at night but they'd get feed mixed in the shaving, I did have issues with rats. Took care of it with the spring loaded traps, pain but it worked. Glad I started fermenting, many benefits

 

[Seaecho]

My coop door will be open 24/7, with an enclosed run. I was just wanting to keep their feed in the run so they could eat as soon as they get up in the morning without me having to go out there at the break of dawn to feed them!

 

[ChickNanny13]

IF you "train" them, feeding them at a comfortable time for you, they'll adjust to it. I made the mistake of feeding mine "earlier" (6:45am) than I'm ready once, they reminded me when I was "late". So I gradually started feeding them later until 7:15 - 7:30am, so we're good now. There are mornings I'm early & think of feeding them earlier but remind myself "later the better". I'm sure the time they eat in the mornings may have something to do when they lay, not sure. I have only 4 BOs, 36wks.

There are mornings I have an egg or two in the nest when I go out, most times not. The regular is 2 - 3 eggs by 11:30am, in the afternoon. Sometimes I get 4 before 11:30am, those are the days I put them in their mobile run for some grass under their feet. I don't free range, the last 4 (2 RIR & 2 EE) really tore up my yard So Hubby built me a 8 x 12 x 7 enclosure & I use a huge plastic dog house for a nest box.

 

[PingoBags]

My coop door will be open 24/7, with an enclosed run. I was just wanting to keep their feed in the run so they could eat as soon as they get up in the morning without me having to go out there at the break of dawn to feed them!

That's how I do mine also, 24/7 access to an enclosed run. Just hang your feeder so the bottom of it is as high as your smallest chickens head height.
My feeder isn't mouse proof, it's about a foot off the ground but it's attached to the coop wall. I'm guessing mice would just scale the wall if they wanted in.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I want feeders above the ground because of mice and rats. Will the rodents still get to the food? I'm getting pullets maybe 3-6 months old. How high should I hang the feeders for them?

This is my setup. . This is when I put my girls in the coop at 5 1/2 weeks. The feeder is close to the floor on the first day. I slowly raised the feeder till the top of the trough is level with the back of the smallest chicken.
The cover on top is optional and it tilts, so if a mouse or rat climbs down the chain and onto the cover, it tilts and they fall off.
But mice and rats can jump up to the trough, a mouse can jump up a foot or higher. So it's not impenetrable.
Maybe a Grandpa feeder or equivalent, which I have no experience, if my setup fails you.
I keep my feeder in the raised coop and so far no rodent problems in 18 months. GC

 

[SueT]

I had mice getting into a hanging feeder. They ran up and down the chain. I remove it each night. If you are leaving coop open, the feed can attract possums and raccoons, another reason to remove it at night.

 

[chickens really]

My Coop and Run is totally rodent proof. If one did get in my Chickens would eat the Mouse..Alberta has no Rats.
I have a hanging feeder inside the Coop and in Winter use a Rubber livestock bowl on bricks for water.