How (not what) Do You Feed Larger Batches of Broilers

[BluegrassSeramas]

Im thinking a large angled PVC pipe that leads into a PVC Trough....


Something like this... Put food in
Here

/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
____________ / /
Cap here --------------> I_0_0 _0__0_0 _/

Large cut or Holes in the bottom for feeding. Not too long so the feed can fall out in it.

I was thinking about making one for every 3 foot section and maybe use a couple of bucket feeders too......

Anyone used a PVC gravity feeder like this?
I also saw one that went into a chicken feeder.... have to find it again.
I have plenty of large pipe and buckets around here so hoping to make my own.....

 

[the simple life]

I use gutters. I bought a ten foot section of gutter for $5.38 and cut it in half put an end cap on the cut ends and screwed it to the walls of the pen.
Holds alot, gives everyone plenty of room and they have to stand to eat. The best thing I ever did for feeding a large group.

 

[feedstorechick]

Quote:
Wow, what a project! We raised 50 broilers last year. I started with a few long metal chick feeders and three one-gallon waterers. By the end, I had added three metal hanging feeders and three big (3 & 5 gallon) waterers. By the time they were grown, it was a challenge to keep them fed and watered. They grow so fast!

 

[jaku]

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I have a section of gutter, and they keep tipping it over!

 

[jaku]

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Whoa! Does that mean you've never done them before and you're starting with a batch of 250?

 

[the simple life]

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I have a section of gutter, and they keep tipping it over!

I screwed mine to the wall.

 

[jaku]

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I have a section of gutter, and they keep tipping it over!

I screwed mine to the wall.

I thought about that, but my problem was that it seemed like it would be hard to fill, considering they swarm at the first sign of food, plus then you're only using one side.

 

[the simple life]

True you are using only one side but if you have enough room to do several feet it works well.
I have ten feet right now and may add another section if I get more birds next time.
As far as filling it we just stand over it and pour it from the bag high enough that they can't interfere, you just have to make sure you get your footing first and claim your space, you can do a few feet without having to move and then usually they are all over the area that just got filled so you have more room to work in the rest of the empty space.
If you use a regular feeder as well you can fill that first so they swarm that and then you have some room to fill the gutter feeders.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Haha, I usually trick mine- I'll take a full trough feeder and set it on the other side of the pen so that they can see it and ALMOST get to it through the hardware cloth. They all crowd to that area, thinking their getting fed. That's when I drop the other feeder in on the other side. When they all crowd to that one, I put the first one in. Surprisingly, a few of the (smarter??) ones won't fall for it, but it works pretty good with the rest.

 

[willheveland]

I use plastic roof gutters as troughs. I have 3 five foot long troughs in my 8x8 pen. Will