Issue with my feeder, any suggestions?

[mdees88]

It sounds like the 2" diameter piece is too long then.

That still didn’t help, so I removed the two inch pvc extension that limits the flow, now the funnel piece pours directly into the bowl, but it still got stuck!

I don't understand how that is possible, if the feed is dry. There's nothing obstructing the flow into the feeder with the 2" piece removed.

Oh you just posted..... that's crazy.

What type of feed are you using? It is a crumble and not a powder right?

 

[mdees88]

Since your pipe is orientated vertically, I wonder if the weight of all the feed in the 4" pipe is compressing the feed in the bottom where it reduces and is causing it to hang up. I use short pieces of 4" pipe in a vertical orientation in my brooders and they seem to work fine. Actually I did use a 24" vertical orientated 4" pipe in my brooder and I'm pretty sure it did get hung up one time and my bowl was empty. I shook it and it dropped and it never did it again so I didn't think much about it.

I guess I don't have that problem with all my feeders (10 of them) because my fill tubes are at a 45 degree angle so there's not as much compression. Basically the feed just slides down the pipe then dumps into the reducer, sort of.

If staying with the vertical orientation I would try a 3x2 reducer instead, should reduce the amount of compression I would think. If that doesn't fix the problem you could just use 2" pvc for the whole thing, would need a 2" coupler where it enters the base so it's as wide as the hole in the top of the red base. Then for the very bottom of the pipe you could cut several little triangles like you did on that 2" piece so the feed can come out.

I would try the 3" reducer first since it will give you more capacity....

 

[FloorCandy]

Since your pipe is orientated vertically, I wonder if the weight of all the feed in the 4" pipe is compressing the feed in the bottom where it reduces and is causing it to hang up. I use short pieces of 4" pipe in a vertical orientation in my brooders and they seem to work fine. Actually I did use a 24" vertical orientated 4" pipe in my brooder and I'm pretty sure it did get hung up one time and my bowl was empty. I shook it and it dropped and it never did it again so I didn't think much about it.

I guess I don't have that problem with all my feeders (10 of them) because my fill tubes are at a 45 degree angle so there's not as much compression. Basically the feed just slides down the pipe then dumps into the reducer, sort of.

If staying with the vertical orientation I would try a 3x2 reducer instead, should reduce the amount of compression I would think. If that doesn't fix the problem you could just use 2" pvc for the whole thing, would need a 2" coupler where it enters the base so it's as wide as the hole in the top of the red base. Then for the very bottom of the pipe you could cut several little triangles like you did on that 2" piece so the feed can come out.

I would try the 3" reducer first since it will give you more capacity....

The pipe was shorter inside, but I did try filling it only a few inches, and today, since most of it spilled out yesterday, there was literally half a cup left in the tube this morning, but it didn’t fall thru until I touched the tube to remove the lid. The bowl was empty, and the 2 in was still not attached. The food is very powdery, but it’s marketed as a crumble. There’s large piece of broken pellets and cracked corn I guess, plus powder and everything in between.

Anyway, I’m trying it with a shorter 3 inch wide pvc just put into the funnel piece even though it’s too wide I put duct tape around til it fit ok, just to see if it helps before I go out and buy more pieces. I’ve also used it with an overturned pickle jar into the funnel previously and that worked. It was visually like a small water cooler that dispenses food.

Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll let you know how it works. I’ll also get a link to the food I got.

 

[mdees88]

One more suggestion that might fix it on the cheap. If you create a funnel out of something like posterboard. then stick it inside the 4" pipe, that should allow the feed to flow gradually down to the 2" reducer. Instead of flowing down the 4" pipe and then immediately having to go through the 2". Using flexible plastic or metal would probably be better, like aluminum flashing. Would look something like this...

 

[FloorCandy]

One more suggestion that might fix it on the cheap. If you create a funnel out of something like posterboard. then stick it inside the 4" pipe, that should allow the feed to flow gradually down to the 2" reducer. Instead of flowing down the 4" pipe and then immediately having to go through the 2". Using flexible plastic or metal would probably be better, like aluminum flashing. Would look something like this...

View attachment 2183531

That’s a great idea, I’m not going to go out and buy more materials right now, I’m going to cut the end off a party hat and see if it works first.

 

[FloorCandy]

The saga continues haha. The food was stuck again this morning, I can tweak some stuff, but the big spill from the other day, that they were bathing in, well I had mixed it into the sand bedding, but I guess not well enough. A few must have stepped in poo and then the spilled food, and their feet are caked up with gross.

So yesterday I sifted and mixed the sand really well, I thought that would get them cleaned up, their whole indoor coop, about 6 sq feet, is sand bedding, when I sift and mix, they all run right in and start bathing in it. The run area was on grass, and as the grass is destroyed I put chips over it, so I put a fresh layer of chips in all the popular spots.

This morning they some still have funky feet. It’s only 4 or 5, but it’s literally exactly one of each color pattern, so it’s hard to find them haha. I caught as many as I saw and picked the grime off, but it’s like cement. I put out a brownie pan with about 3/4 inch of water and they’re all playing in it, I think it’s helping, I will try to check feet this afternoon.

My parrot used to enjoy the hose on the mist setting, I may take the bad ones out and mist them in the baby pool, we will see how they feel about it.

Some pool party pics:

The cautious approach, let’s see if those guys survive haha:

Ok they have accepted it is not a threat

I just thought Tux looks so cute in this one looking head on at the camera.

 

[mdees88]

It got stuck using the party hat? The end you cut open was pretty big, almost the full 2" width? I have no idea what else you can do. Makes me wonder if the feed may be part of the issue.

I had some chicks in my brooder get poo stuck to their feet one time and it dried hard as a rock. I poured an inch warm water in the sink with a little Epsom salt and let them soak for 10-15 minutes. Most all the poop dissolved but there where a couple I had to work at to remove.

 

[FloorCandy]

It got stuck using the party hat? The end you cut open was pretty big, almost the full 2" width? I have no idea what else you can do. Makes me wonder if the feed may be part of the issue.

I had some chicks in my brooder get poo stuck to their feet one time and it dried hard as a rock. I poured an inch warm water in the sink with a little Epsom salt and let them soak for 10-15 minutes. Most all the poop dissolved but there where a couple I had to work at to remove.

The party hat broke and was jammed in there part of the way, I think an edge poked out under the lip and the birds grabbed it. So I’ll try something stronger, or I have a different idea totally.

I think you’re right about the feed. I may need to adjust my method. At least I know it’ll work in winter, since it worked fine in the house. It must be this food in the humidity. I hate to change the feed because the price is good, and my birds seem to do really well on it, I see a lot of pics online of chicks a week or more older than mine, and they still look kind of wonky, but at just over 4 weeks mine are big and mostly feathered, so I feel like I was lucky to find a good one on the first try.

I’m gonna go take a look at the feet now hopefully it has resolved (or dissolved) with the water.

Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[FloorCandy]

Interesting update, just read a thread from someone else, same issue, same feed! It’s the feed, too powdery gets clumped up.

 

[mdees88]

Well at least you narrowed it down. I guess you tried some new food and it's working now?