How do I stop hens from wasting so much feed?

[feedstorechick]

My Serama pairs are in wire bottom cages. I have both a cup and a rabbit feeder for feed. The highlight of their day is billing out the feed. I tried raising the feeders, then raising them again. It works for a while, then the get the hang of slinging the feed out anyway. Any ideas?

 

[Beekissed]

Wrap the mouth of your feeders with chicken wire. They can get their beaks in but they can't really do the sideways flipping thingy and toss feed out. I have a trough style feeder wrapped in fencing that allows them to get their heads into the feed but no maneuverable room to flick. Saves me sooooo much feed!

 

[Bedste]

i am switching to pellets .... i hear they do not waste as much and when they drop on the ground they are easier to find and eat

 

[joedie]

I switched to pellets months ago and found they don't waste NEAR as much! What they do drop on the ground, they eat.

 

[claud]

Pellets are less wasteful. Although I can't always find them around here.

 

[nikevijo]

I put a feeder pan or a small cat litter pan in the cage. They have to get in the pan to eat, even if they scratch the food stays in

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Make a "Milk Jug" feeder

Cut a hole in the side of a 1 gallon milk jug just large enough for them to get their heads in.
Then they can eat but not sling feed out

 

[Cluckenstein]

I also use a rabbit feeder and had the same trouble with feed being shoveled onto the ground. What I did was cut out a strip of plastic the size of the feeder opening and put 3 holes in it. Then tied it around the back of the feeder. I now only need to fill the feeder once a week instead of every few days.