help - girls spilling feed!

[sedodge]

Thanks for all the helpful replies! I got the feeder from my local feed store and they said it was big enough for my 3 girls - it had been working just fine, I only had to replace the feed every 3-4 days, but now it won't even last an hour. It is hanging, but perhaps I didn't have it high enough? I had it at back height, but I think I'll try it higher to see if that helps. I had also thought about doing something to stabilize it, like a post on the bottom or something?

I have sort of given up refilling the thing lately and just let them eat off the ground, but you know, they just give me those big sad chicken eyes and look so pathetic and hungry that I feel like the worst chicken owner ever.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Do NOT give in to the sad, pathetic chicken eyes!
I would advise that you not "fill" the feeder - a cup or so, morning and evening. I actually have a large, round catering platter under my suspended feeder. When my chooks (more than 20 of them) spill a fair amount on the platter, I sprinkle it in the run and they attack this new "treat".

 

[Jenski]

I think Little Giant also makes a couple of "segmented" feeders that discourage all that fiddling with the feed tray.

We hooked up our own nut-bolt arrangement when we "modified" our Little Giant feeder. Only DH can get that sucker on or off, and it has worked great as far as staying together. Now if I could just get the girls to quit tilting it . . .

 

[byrtabest]

thank you for the info this site is a blessing for me. since i am a new owner to eight Road Island Reds. I made a feeder for them, they are spilling more than they eat. i will be buying feed often something has to happen so raising it will have to happen.

 

[lazy gardener]

This is an old thread! But, since you're here, I'll suggest that you look into fermented feed. It will drastically cut your feed bill while making the feed that they do eat more bio-available. Super easy to do, and absolutely NO waste, not an attraction for rodents, either... that can be a problem when feed is left out 24/7.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/645057/fermented-feeds-anyone-using-them

 

[AllynTal]

Can you post a picture of your set-up?

Raise it so they can't scratch in it, is my first thought.

 

[Bananabread]

Someone may have mentioned this already and if so, my apologies. That being said, I found if I mix scratch in with the normal feed they absolutely go nuts, pulling out all the healthy, organic, nutritious, non-cost-saving feed for the small bits of corn and seeds. Ironically, I thought mixing that in would encourage them to eat the feed as well.

So, needless to say, no more treats in the actual feed container. Many mention around the forums, and I tend to agree, scratch is best used as a treat (e.g., to get them into the coop at the end of the day) but if given the option with breakfast, they will quickly eat that and leave the healthy stuff in the feeder if you're lucky or all over the run if not.

Converting to pellets can help as well but my chicks go on hunger strike at the sight of it...

 

[lazy gardener]

Someone may have mentioned this already and if so, my apologies. That being said, I found if I mix scratch in with the normal feed they absolutely go nuts, pulling out all the healthy, organic, nutritious, non-cost-saving feed for the small bits of corn and seeds. Ironically, I thought mixing that in would encourage them to eat the feed as well.

So, needless to say, no more treats in the actual feed container. Many mention around the forums, and I tend to agree, scratch is best used as a treat (e.g., to get them into the coop at the end of the day) but if given the option with breakfast, they will quickly eat that and leave the healthy stuff in the feeder if you're lucky or all over the run if not.

Converting to pellets can help as well but my chicks go on hunger strike at the sight of it...

If they get hungry enough, and treats are not offered, they'll think pellets are wonderful. Also helps if you don't keep feed in front of them all the time. Give them a serving in the morning, and again in the evening.