Is feed on the floor of the coop waisted?

[Jenny Penny]

Hello!
I have four backyard hens and I am having trouble figuring out if they are waist ing their food. We have constructed a PVC pipe to supply feed into a dish that is about 5 inches off the ground. I replenish every day, but I'm noticing that there is feed all over the bottom of the coop and the dish is empty. I use sand as a litter and they are on grower feed in Crumble form.
My question is, will they eventually eat what they have scattered all over the ground, or am I waisting feed by letting this continue? Any suggestions? thanks and happy chicken!!

 

[dheltzel]

They will likely only clean up the spilled feed if you stop feeding them in the dish for a few days. Also, try making the dish deeper, so they have to put their head far down into it reach the food. Then they will scatter less outside the bowl.

 

[Buttercup14]

Thanks for this question. I was wondering the same thing

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Since you have already started with PVC as part of your construction, you can look into "no waste" feeders that are constructed with that same materiel which will eliminate the use of the dish and their ability to waste the feed being deposited.

 

[Jenny Penny]

Great! Thank you. I was hoping that would be my answer. :yiipchick

 

[Jenny Penny]

I will look int the no waste options. Thank you very much