Just made a new gravity feeder....

[The Sheriff]

I hate the galvanized gravity feeders. The lid won't stay on, the feed gets wet and the rats get in it. So I saw something similar to this for sale on eBay but was too expensive with shipping. I found the galvanized pan at the feed store. The feed cylinder was bent so they sold me just the bottom for a couple of bucks. I looked at Lowes for a plain white plastic bucket but this is all they had. I will replace it when I find one. Hate the lettering! Anyway, I cut the bottom of the bucket out with a jigsaw and drilled some holes for the built-in gadgets that hold the feeder on. It didn't seem sturdy enough so I drilled some more holes and put in three "L" brackets to hold the bucket on the base. I secured them with nuts and bolts. Voila' a gravity feeder with a tight fitting lid. I will take it down and hang it very ceremoniously tomorrow morning so the chickens will think they are getting something special. I just hope the shephard's hook I have in the ground will hold it. I put in 25 pounds of feed!

Mary

 

[Country Heart]

Wow - looks good

Would love to see your girls using their new feeder. More pics?

 

[The Sheriff]

Silly me! I need a taller shepherds hook! But the girls seemed to like it on the ground. At least the little cochins in the background can reach it for now!

 

[Plain Old Dee]

We bought a five gallon bucket at Wal-mart for very little. It didn't have any lettering on it. You might try looking there in the paint section...

It's a good looking feeder, BTW!

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks Dee!

 

[gryeyes]

Most grocery stores with bakeries have empty frosting buckets (five or more gallons) to give away free. I got two of 'em from a local Nugget Market to make my gravity waterers with the chicken nipples. (I don't know which sounds worse: chicken nipples or chicken peckers. Anyway, the things work great.)

The buckets are white but not quite totally translucent - one can see the water level in 'em, so the feed level should be just as discernible.

Safeways and Bel-Airs and other grocery stores must have plenty of empty frosting buckets. Don't pay for 'em. ;-)

Heck, Mary, if you need some, let me pick up a couple for you and deliver 'em, if need be. I've wanted to visit the Cluckawalla Prison ever since I joined BYC!

 

[Country Heart]

Great picture of the girls in action. They seem to like it.

 

[kathyinmo]

So, how's it holding up? Looks great ... I think I am gonna have to try one of these. Thanks!

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
It is working out great Kathy. It gets a little heavy for me to carry when it's full. It holds a 25 pound bag. I hang it outside in the morning and bring it into the coop at night. get a bucket without writing on it. I can see that writing all the way up here to the house and it drives me crazy! But then again, white feathers on brown dirt sends my blood pressure soaring. Dang light Sussex!