How do you reduce feed waste?

[smedly9921]

Well I am just looking to see what everyone else does to reduce the amount of food that gets wasted by messy picky chickens. I have read many different posts and I just thought I would try to get a bunch of suggestions all in one place. Things I have done are switch to pellets instead of crumbles, elevate my feeders, keep the feeders covered so it stays clean and dry. What is everyone else doing.

 

[Eggcessive]

Fermenting feed will help with food waste, and most people who use it say they use much less feed. It costs nothing to try it on your chickens for a short time. If you don't want to go that route, adding water to make an oatmeal consistancy of feed works well, but you must clean the bowls every 24 hours or it can mold.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We elevate the feeder, so they can't scratch food out of the tray. We also use a feeder with spokes in the tray, so the chickens can't bill food out of the tray. We usually feed crumbles.

 

[yamahog3187]

Can you post a pic of the "spokes" for me. I have a couple of PVC feeders that I just built but they are still wasting a lot of food 3 days out of the week. I want something I can fit to my situation and pics help the 'engineering process'! Thanks

 

[naadarien]

Fermenting feed will help with food waste, and most people who use it say they use much less feed. It costs nothing to try it on your chickens for a short time. If you don't want to go that route, adding water to make an oatmeal consistancy of feed works well, but you must clean the bowls every 24 hours or it can mold.

I agree with this. We feed FF now and I have already seen a pretty steep drop in food intake, which was one of the reasons I switched. We are still feeding starter...

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Here's a link to a feeder with spokes. We bought ours locally. I've seen a couple of brands with similar styles.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Feed-and-Water-Supplies/Plastic-Hanging-Feeder-22-lb-p182.aspx

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Adjusting your feeder is the best way to reduce feed wastage.

 

[chocbantamorps]

I got my feeder with spokes from southern states. It was a little giant brand that you can also get from amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Little-Giant-...1371607480&sr=8-1&keywords=little+giant+phf11. My chickens haven't billed any crumbles or pellets from it.

 

[SQUZZI]

Hi! site for (how to build a treadle feeder) https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/building-a-treadle-chicken-feeder chickens learn very quickly how to use it
NO WASTE!! easy to build Regards squzzi

 

[Sandstorm495]

Fermenting feed will help with food waste, and most people who use it say they use much less feed. It costs nothing to try it on your chickens for a short time. If you don't want to go that route, adding water to make an oatmeal consistancy of feed works well, but you must clean the bowls every 24 hours or it can mold.

I agree with Eggcessive. Oatmeal is a good food to keep the waste down, and your chickens will love you for it .