Hanging feeders?

[docdubz]

If you look on the side of the metal feeder near where the feed comes out into the tray, you will see adjusters to allow the feed to come down.

Is this the issue you are having?

View attachment 2351831

I have it opened as much as it will, makes no difference, a small amount will come out for a while but 90% of the feed on the inside stays on the inside until I stick my hand in there and shuffle it around. I even tried hanging it so that one end was 2" lower than the other side to see if I could get gravity to help and nope.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine definitely isn't damp or humid enough to clump.



Crumble for me.

Well there goes my theory then.
I have 2 that hold 30# of feed and 1 that holds 7#. I haven't had the failure to dispense issue with pellets or crumble here. I thought maybe it was our low humidity levels.

 

[SnootyHen]

Does it have a cone in the bottom of it or flat bottom ? Crumb consists of different size particles that will pack under the weight of the feed above . A flat bottom will cause the feed to lock up and not flow as well if not pellets . If it is flat bottom try sticking a upside down funnel (put piece of tape over the tip and refill . Hope this helps .
Dave

It's kind of a cone bottom. Not a steep one but enough that it should fall. I really don't get it and up until reading this thread, I just assumed it was because I don't hang mine (I have it sitting on a few stacked bricks) but obviously people who hang the same one have the same problem. It's not a huge problem because I'm in there several times a day anyway so I just give it a shake when I notice but it definitely should fall down on its own.

 

[DMOTS]

This is one method I use. 4” pvc reduced to 2” then add a long sweep with a 22.5 elbow slightly turned right or left. They can get there heads in to eat. They still peck some out but not much.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Try waxing the inside of the feeder with car wax. slather it on, let it dry, rub it all off. Wax won't hurt the chickens, some pelleted feed has wax added so it flows through the pellet roller press easier.

And for the one person that asked, yeah, rats and mice can jump an amazing distance and will have no problem jumping up into the feeder.

 

[SnootyHen]

Try waxing the inside of the feeder with car wax. slather it on, let it dry, rub it all off. Wax won't hurt the chickens, some pelleted feed has wax added so it flows through the pellet roller press easier.

And for the one person that asked, yeah, rats and mice can jump an amazing distance and will have no problem jumping up into the feeder.

I finally got around to hanging mine and it definitely falls down better but those little jerk mice/voles are still getting to it.

 

[docdubz]

I started mixing all flock pellets in with the crumbles. It's pretty much completely fixed the problem of feed getting stuck. Makes sense that the crumbles are too uniform in size and compact rather than flow.

 

[aart]

What I thought came across as harsh is what I bolded above.

Al is the designer, manufacturer, and purveyor of a good treadle feeder.
Tho he is careful not to link or mention that too often.
Looks at all his posts, same message most every time.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Al is the designer, manufacturer, and purveyor of a good treadle feeder.
Tho he is careful not to link or mention that too often.
Looks at all his posts, same message most every time.

Yeah, after these posts here I looked.
It's great that he can make them. No need to be rough on anyone that chooses a different kind though.

He should advertise them in the buy sell section perhaps.

 

[David Barkey]

Could you please post some pictures. I would like to see your set up. I have a hard time visualizing it. I have the same problem and would like to improve my system. Thank you