Make your own - No waste - 5 gallon (25# feed) bucket feeder for about $3

[pfields]

Made our feeder just like the blue one on here and today we were disappointed in how much the chickens were managing to waste. We did this one to keep wild birds from eating the food and the rain from dissolving the feed. With the cost of the black plastic bin and the PVC it wasn't cheap and still wasting food and attracting birds.


Here's a picture of the old gutter feeder that birds were eating from and the rain was dissolving the feed.

 

[henless]

Made our feeder just like the blue one on here and today we were disappointed in how much the chickens were managing to waste. We did this one to keep wild birds from eating the food and the rain from dissolving the feed. With the cost of the black plastic bin and the PVC it wasn't cheap and still wasting food and attracting birds.

I would suggest you cut some pvc extensions to put on the end of the elbows. The chickens will have to reach further in for the food and not be able to waste any or very little feed.

 

[pfields]

I would suggest you cut some pvc extensions to put on the end of the elbows. The chickens will have to reach further in for the food and not be able to waste any or very little feed.

We've spend too much money already on this feeder. I'll just deal with the loss of feed. PVC isn't cheap!

 

[tntchix]

I'm so sorry it's not working for you. I have filled mine twice and they haven't spilled any that I have noticed. I didn't have spillage with the bucket feeder either. That's weird. I wonder what the issue is? I don't have mine raised way up so they kind of have to crouch a bit, maybe that makes a difference?

 

[pfields]

I'm so sorry it's not working for you. I have filled mine twice and they haven't spilled any that I have noticed. I didn't have spillage with the bucket feeder either. That's weird. I wonder what the issue is? I don't have mine raised way up so they kind of have to crouch a bit, maybe that makes a difference?

Tomorrow I'll lower it to see if that helps. It's been so rainy here in south Texas that I haven't been able to sit out and watch what they're doing. We just put it out yesterday afternoon. Most of what spilled was already dissolving in the rain on the ground.

The wild birds and the rain were ruining so much of our feed with the gutter feeder, other than that it worked great and was very cheap to make.

 

[pfields]

We have the feeder on two cinder blocks laid sideways, not upright tall. We have ten PVC openings all together.

 

[tntchix]

I had mine on cinder blocks too, but it seemed too high and all I had left was a wheel dolly so I popped it down under the shavings and it balanced nicely and everyone went right at it. Good luck.

edited: because my fingernails are too dang long =TYPOS

 

[pfields]

We put in on two four by four boards and it looked to low. Will change it tomorrow and report back. Thanks for the suggestions. I love the feeder, just want it to work.

 

[lynnehd]

PVC is expensive, but check any recycling center, including those run by Habitat for Humanity.
Also try posting on Freecycle or Craigslist. You just need a short piece.

Maybe if changing the height doesn't help, you can find a short piece.

 

[pfields]

PVC is expensive, but check any recycling center, including those run by Habitat for Humanity.
Also try posting on Freecycle or Craigslist. You just need a short piece.

Maybe if changing the height doesn't help, you can find a short piece.

Yes it is expensive. We drove 60 miles to our nearest Home Depot to buy ours for the feeder. We live in a very small town.