Home made automatic feeder

[dale]

I took three 3' sections of 4" PVC pipe and two 90 degree elbows and made a U. The lower section I cut the top off and attached a 1x12 pine board to serve as a backstop. Two screws to attach the uprights to the inside of the coop.

I fill it the uprights with cracked corn and layer mix, the feed drops into the lower section, the chickens are happy, and I only fill the uprights once a week for my 21 free range friends.

The PVC pipe was leftover from another project so the only cost was the two elbows. The backboard was an add on as the feed was being scattered out the back.

 

[allaboutdemchicks]

Hello dale....this sounds like a great, money and time saving project. And having most of the materials on-hand was an added bonus! Congratulations and thanks for sharing with everyone!! Claudia

 

[kristenm1975]

Hey Dale, sound great! Have you noticed much feed waste so far? I'd been feeding my 20 hens layer pellets mixed with cracked corn, grit and oyster shell and there was a tremendous waste going on. BYC-ers informed me that it's likely because the hens want to get at the corn and bill all the other stuff out of the way and onto the floor where it's wasted, while they search for just what they want.

 

[GinaSki]

I amlwasy love seeing new ideas in action... can you post a picture of your new feeder ??
Thanks !

 

[poquitogallito]

great idea, im going to make one of these soon!

I made a home-made feeder out of a clay pot bottom (the shallow one that goes under a pot, to catch the drainage) and a left over plastic tree tub (the black kind you get from the store when you buy a small plant).

I cut the bottom out, turned it upside down onto the clay pot, I cut 4 ~2" notches in the bottom for the feed to come out of. I put some wire through the pot and up to the top of the black bucket to latch it together, so they dont push the black bucket off, seems to work great (other than having the same problem as Kritsten, guess I wont mix anything into their feed anymore!)

 

[Patch of Heaven Farm]

Great idea Dale !! I made a waterer out of a five gallon bucket with a lid by cutting slots in the lower part (low enough for them to reach in and drink) and i fill it up by the hole in the top of the lid. It works great for my hens. No more dirty water since they can't get in it and it is so easy to clean and fill. I hang it in the coop by the handle just a few inches off the floor so shavings don't get slung in it when they are scratching.