Hen lays in the feeder - suggestions?

[deanawo]

I have a hanging feeder sitting on bricks in the hen house. I love it b/c it holds several days worth of feed. No matter what kind of board, etc I have tried on top I have a hen that knocks it off and lays an egg in the feeder. I really don't want to hang it as it is hard to lift the feed bags up to fill it. Any ideas for something that will fit on the top?

 

[TyrannosaurusChix]

a picture would probably help... i made my own auto feeders out of stove vent pipe and a galvanized tray. so the top is flat( no hangers as of right now. i tried mike crats but that encouraged them to perch there. i took it off and everyone leaves it alone now.

what about a top to a pot? an old one you can drill holes in and somehow attach it.. ? hmm


oh and i use 5 gallon buckets to transfer feed from my bins to the auto feeders.

 

[deanawo]

Its just a standard store bought round metal feeder sitting on a couple of bricks. I put an old lid in the hole but as the feed went down so did the lid so she laid on it. So it would have to attach somehow.

 

[turtlebird]

I use a hanging feeder also. But I hang it from the ceiling of the coop. Is that an option for you? I cut a little hole in an old ice cream (gallon) lid for the hook of the feeder and laid it over the top of the feeder to keep the dust/dirt out. Works pretty good, but the feeder does hang.

 

[nitro3custom]

If the eggs aren't getting damaged I don't see any harm in it laying an egg on the top.

 

[sjh]

How about getting a feed scoop. Then you will not have to lift that bag so high.

 

[deanawo]

If I hang it will they still lay in there? I will keep working on a lid idea. I love ice cream I may have to go get a gallon & try the lid.

 

[Tomhusker]

I had an issue with mine roosting on the feeder. I took a piece of chicken wire and rolled it up and put it in the top of the feeder. Now they can't sit on the feeder and I can fill it with the wire in it. The feed works around the chicken wire.

 

[Chris09]

What you nee is the lid for it..

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_59_57&products_id=890
http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_59_57&products_id=891

Chris

 

[deanawo]

Quote:
Oh I have a little piece right near the coop that would just fit, I will try it tomorrow. Thanks.