ideas needed! protect food from the rain

[llandry]

I have a 12" pan 12# capacity metal food container. it's open on the top where you fill it. I need ideas on how to protect it in the rain. I had a smaller container that could fit underneath the coop but this one doesn't fit. Our run is not covered either. I could leave the container inside the coop on rainy days but the chickens rarely go inside except to lay. It's also thunderstorm season so you can't always predict the weather.

Has anyone built a small structure to protect their food from the rain? Pics would be great! Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[llandry]

Anyone?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do you hang the container?

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you hang the container... can you take a bucket either like a home depot 5 gallon or a smaller one from like the bakery (I got some that had frosting in them for free the other day)
Drill a hole in the bottom center to run the rope through to cover the top
Get a plastic garbage can lid the round kind and make an umbrella for the eating rim by cutting the diameter of the bucket used to cover the top
position height of can lid on the bucket using silicone and screws to hold in place.
May need small angle bracket or other creative ideas.

 

[pdirt]

If you know someone with scrap building materials, you can make one for free or cheap. All you need is some 2x4's, some plywood, deck screws, a drill and a skillsaw. Draw up a basic plan and start cutting and screwing things together. Make a roof out of one piece, slanted so that rain can roll off. Roofing material would be ideal, but even a couple coats of paint will extend the life of the plywood roof. To protect from wind blowing rain into the feeder, make the roof fairly low and extend the roof out by 18" or more on all sides.

You could buy the wood products from a lumber store or Home Depot, but said materials are spendy $$ when brand new. A box of deck screws (2" long should be good) will set you back $6-$9. I prefer the screws with the Torx (star bit) heads, they usually come with a free bit for your drill. Check your local small hardware store for "mistake" cans of cheap paint, get outdoor paint if you can.

 

[llandry]

If you hang the container... can you take a bucket either like a home depot 5 gallon or a smaller one from like the bakery (I got some that had frosting in them for free the other day)
Drill a hole in the bottom center to run the rope through to cover the top
Get a plastic garbage can lid the round kind and make an umbrella for the eating rim by cutting the diameter of the bucket used to cover the top
position height of can lid on the bucket using silicone and screws to hold in place.
May need small angle bracket or other creative ideas.

BRILLIANT! Man i love backyard chickens! Thank you so much. I can totally fo this.