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

[seminolewind]

Sometimes Amazon is the cheapest way to go. And figure the price of gas as well.

 

[henless]

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

You won't need very much. Maybe a 2 or 3 inch piece for each opening? You only need 1 or 2 inches sticking out of the elbow. I have a 5 gallon bucket feeder and put extensions on mine. They don't stick out very far and did the trick just fine. I hope you can find a way to make it work. I really like my bucket feeder.

 

[COChix]

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.

You won't need very much. Maybe a 2 or 3 inch piece for each opening? You only need 1 or 2 inches sticking out of the elbow. I have a 5 gallon bucket feeder and put extensions on mine. They don't stick out very far and did the trick just fine. I hope you can find a way to make it work. I really like my bucket feeder. 

Maybe you could just get one piece of PVC pipe and cut multiple piece for your openings. Maybe you find some other type of tubing that would work. Right now I can't think of anything to suggest. So when you lowered the feeders, whoever had the black tub feeder, did they waste less feed?

 

[pfields]

Today we cut some half moon shaped pieces from a plastic dish pan. We used Liquid Nails and tape to hold them on until they dry. I'll post later to let you know if it works.

 

[tntchix]

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.

 

[pfields]

The chickens wouldn't have anything to do with the half moon shapes hot glued over the PVC instead they suddenly turned to the Liquid Nails that my husband used to secure the PVC. They hadn't even noticed it and now peck by peck it going fast. So, I removed the half moon plastic shapes and within minutes they were eating out of the feeder.

I loved my gutter feeder because all 23 chickens could eat at one time and it was cheap to make. The rain was a small problem compared to the wild birds finding the feeder too inviting. My next move is to set up a wild bird feeder away from where my chickens eat. I have 28 new RIR's that will be put in my backyard when their old enough so that one new feeder with 10 holes will not be sufficient.

Suggestions?

 

[lynnehd]

Is there anything else sturdy but flexible that you can roll up and put inside the PVC feeder opening instead of more 4" PVC (which you don't have access to, of course)?
Part of a plastic lid, or a place mat (throwing out ideas). Or cut up one of those flexible plastic binders. Staple it into a 4 inch round shape and insert so you extend the opening by about 2".

 

[pfields]

Is there anything else sturdy but flexible that you can roll up and put inside the PVC feeder opening instead of more 4" PVC (which you don't have access to, of course)?
Part of a plastic lid, or a place mat (throwing out ideas). Or cut up one of those flexible plastic binders. Staple it into a 4 inch round shape and insert so you extend the opening by about 2".

This morning we cut away all the Liquid Nails on the outside around the PVC and then I used my hot glue gun around the top outside of the PVC. The hot glue dries clear so we'll see if they try to mess with it. My husband had also used Liquid Nails around the inside (which they can't get to) so hopefully with both no water can get inside the feeder.

 

[pfields]

Update on feeder:

Well so far no waste of feed like before. The only thing different beside the hot glue around the PVC was to put the feeder on two 4x4's with 2 2x4's over that so the feeder is not as low as it was and not as high as it was on the cinder blocks laid on their side. Now if it holds up under heavy rain we're good to go.

 

[tntchix]

so glad you worked it out

it is always trial and error it seems on stuff like this