how many feeders?

[michael&Kari]

I'm sure this has been asked before but I can't seem to find it. I have 20 chicks. We're preparing to have 20 chickens when they grow up.

I gathered from some other posts I've read that I probably want hanging feeders. Question is, how many feeders will I need for that many chickens? And could someone also tell me, please, how much feed I can expect 20 chickens to eat? Thanks!

 

[panner123]

First you have to decide on the size of the feeder you want. A five gal bucket should hold forty pounds of feed. Each full grown chicken will eat 1/3 pound of feed per day. So that five gal bucket should last about a week.

 

[michael&Kari]

maybe I need to clarify. Do I need a certain number of feeding holes or inches of trough per bird?

 

[panner123]

I use four two inch holes in a five gal food grade bucket. This sets in an oil catch pan, you can buy this at any auto parts store. It is about three inches high. I use one of these for every 20 to 25 chickens. They don't all eat at the same time for they are free ranged. Some days it may not even be used.

 

[ella]

I like to have at least 2 areas that they can go to get feed. So you don't have a bully dominating the feeder and keeping weaker chicks away.

 

[the simple life]

I was going to buy one of those self feeders that hold like someone said, about 40 lbs.But its sits on the ground.
Is it better for them to have a hanging feeder instead.I know it probably keeps the varmint out but other than that what would be the pros of hanging them rather than leaving it on the ground?

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Quote:
If the feeder is hanging the chickens don't poop in it.

 

[chickenannie]

After a year of having chickens and trying to "get by" with homemade feeders, I've realized WHY the ones from the store are built the way they are! Now I just get those.

I recommend 2 large, round, hanging feeders. They waste less food if it's higher (hen's shoulder level), can't poop or throw bedding into it, and can't knock it over. I started out with a long narrow one on the floor so all the chickens could line up on either side to eat, but it causes more squabbles and they were always knocking it over. Now it's hanging, but the round feeders work much better cause they can't pick out the bits of feed they like and leave the rest on the bottom. I would get two so the less dominant hens get to eat too.

 

[altballard]

We use a 5 gallon bucket with 5 port holes for our girls to get food. we currently have 9 hens and I have 5 more baby girls coming mid August (if I don't add any before the drop0 dead date!). I was wondering about adding a second bucket when they get full grown. we have a small 2.5 gallon Rent-a-coop feeder that we use when we have babies or in the coop when momma has to has babies.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Your 20 adult birds will consume 1/4 pound of feed per day as a general rule, or 5 pounds per day. Two feeders would be best, as one poster already advised, keep them out of line of sight if possible. Any morning rush will be handled by pecking order so don't worry about the number of ports or linear inches of space.

All that said, hanging feeders do not stop rodents or wild birds. Eventually you will have a rodent infestation. You pay for good feeders even when you don't have one.