Hens are throwing all their feed out of the feeder and on to the ground

[Al Gerhart]

Read the post above your reply. Those bucket feeders work fine until you have rodents or have hens slinging feed. As to how many, one bucket with four ports, might need two of the contraptions. Might work fine till the rats show up if you don't mind the wasted feed.

 

[MizAmberLea]

Read the post above your reply. Those bucket feeders work fine until you have rodents or have hens slinging feed. As to how many, one bucket with four ports, might need two of the contraptions. Might work fine till the rats show up if you don't mind the wasted feed.

The entire reason for this thread is hens slinging feed…

 

[Al Gerhart]

The entire reason for this thread is hens slinging feed…

For sure but the lady was asking about the bucket feeders and seems to have not read that part. I was being diplomatic and hoping she would take that other person's advice. Or let them learn the hard way I suppose.

 

[nevrenufanimals]

You pay for a good feeder even if you don't buy one. Through wasted feed. A good feeder has a door, a tall front panel and a 90 degree feed lip that prevents raking for 95% of the birds out there. And side panels, and you stretch the chicken out when eating so they focus on keeping the treadle down and not on raking feed looking for treats.

A good feeder also has the ability to install a taller feeder lip extender for those rare cases where a hen has learned to rake feed. Adding that FLE, Feeder Lip Extension, prevents all feed raking.

came across this response as I was reading on this topic. Because I have this EXACT feeder and my hens managed to get the feed absolutely everywhere. It is piled in front of the feeder where they flung it out. They've been fine with it for years. Now all of a sudden it looks like they dug the pellets out! I have never mixed anything in their feed for them to search for. Just pellets.

 

[Al Gerhart]

came across this response as I was reading on this topic. Because I have this EXACT feeder and my hens managed to get the feed absolutely everywhere. It is piled in front of the feeder where they flung it out. They've been fine with it for years. Now all of a sudden it looks like they dug the pellets out! I have never mixed anything in their feed for them to search for. Just pellets.

You need a feeder lip extender, I mentioned one in the post above. They cost $1.50, not exactly a profit center, plus the very expensive U.S. mail shipping these days. If you buy one with a feeder they ship with the feeder at no additional cost.

Not sure what caused your hens to start digging through the feed. Maybe a stray corn kernel from the feed sack or they found a bug and thought there were more.

Until the feeder lip extender arrives, some cardboard and duct tape will work. Just make the front lip at least 1.5" taller than it is now, that ought to stop them. This is a chicken problem, not a feeder problem, but we have what is needed.

 

[nevrenufanimals]

You need a feeder lip extender, I mentioned one in the post above. They cost $1.50, not exactly a profit center, plus the very expensive U.S. mail shipping these days. If you buy one with a feeder they ship with the feeder at no additional cost.

Not sure what caused your hens to start digging through the feed. Maybe a stray corn kernel from the feed sack or they found a bug and thought there were more.

Until the feeder lip extender arrives, some cardboard and duct tape will work. Just make the front lip at least 1.5" taller than it is now, that ought to stop them. This is a chicken problem, not a feeder problem, but we have what is needed.

lip extender ordered. In the meantime, I have removed the rat proof feeder from their pen. Trying to get them to clean up their mess and all the wasted food they put on the floor. It's inside of a closed in run that shuts out rodents etc after dusk. So rodents arent usually a problem unless they get in during the daytime hours. I'll replace it soon when we go on vacation. I like to use this feeder especially when i go away for extended period of time and sometimes I put this feeder inside their run that rodents can actually get into because it takes up room inside their smaller run that does actually shut off. And it holds a LOT. When I ordered this feeder, a rat had gotten inside the one that shuts up at night I guess during the day and he got stuck inside at night. Took me a week to figure out what was happening. There were droppings left inside and I could see where it was chewing trying to get out! I'm guessing his butt was getting pecked as he chewed! But one day I found him and ran him out. No more problems after that. So I move the feeder around as I need it without worrying about critters getting into it. I still have a traditional hanging one also that I still use.

 

[BARobbins]

I use a fortex black rubber feed pan under a 12 lb feeder and set the feeder right inside it (not hung). Then I dump the feed that spills over into the tub back into the feeder each day. Almost zero waste for me. You can also use an oil pan.

My wife and I are new to the chicken "business". Late spring we purchased a small coop (tractor-style) and now have four nice red sexlink hens giving us an egg each every day. We're feeding them from a small hanging feeder (Tractor Supply) that holds about 1-2 lbs of feed. Using good quality layer pellets. Supplementing feed with scratch, 2-3 cups a day on the ground. Problem is that every time we fill the feeder, the hens almost immediately begin digging out all the feed and throwing it on the ground. This has been happening for about 6 weeks now. Any ideas as to why and what we might do to resolve the problem?

We have a black star(sex link) she is awesome and eats like a horse. We feed scratch daily early and late afternoon but only a half cup at a time. I know
When I mixed high end feed with their layer they would toss aside the less desirable. Maybe too much of a good thing and that is why they make a mess looking for goodies?! Good luck!