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

[lalaland]

ok, now I think I've got it. thanks for your patience!

 

[kathrync]

First off thanks to JetDog who I first saw posted about this incredible feeder. I've been using it for the past couple months and I will NEVER EVER go back to any other kind of feeder!

I started out with the basic red/white plastic feeder that all the feed stores sell............ the chickens wasted more food than they ate so I knew I had to figure out something else.



I then made a PVC tube feeder, but it only held a few pounds of food and seemed to need to be refilled all the time..... and I only have 5 chickens



So then I read about the 5 gallon bucket feeder from Jetdog.................... And I've never turned back!

This thing is SOOO easy to make and it will hold 25 lbs of pellet food!!!

First thing you need is a 5 gallon bucket. You can purchase one at one of the home improvement stores, or if you want to save a few bucks like me you can get a used pickle bucket from your local fast food restaurant for free, or even try your local bakery for a 5 gallon frosting bucket.

Next you need 3" pvc elbow (about $3 at Lowes) and a 3-1/2" hole saw (you can get the hole saw cheap at Harbor Freight).

Cut the end of the elbow off at the red line (see pic below) and then figure out where the hole in the bucket should be so that when you stick the CUT END into the bucket it's about 3/4" off the bottom. Silicone or pvc cement around inside and out, put the top on the bucket and you're set!

I also added an "extension" to the end of the elbow that the chickens stick their heads in to get the food to make the hole a bit smaller and also so that they have to go farther in. This TOTALLY eliminated ALL spilled pellets! The "extension" adds about 1" deeper they need to go. See pictures below.

I put the bucket on a few patio bricks to bring it up to about chest height on my chickens.

My bucket only has 1 elbow but you could probably add up to 3 if you wanted to feed around the entire bucket.






You can see the extension (3" PVC pipe that I added to the elbow in the picture below)



Here is a picture of the bucket in my coop via my coop web cam.



Picture from inside the bucket


Here is the finished product sitting next to my 5 gallon heated water for the winter. There's a link in my signature below for instructions on the waterer.


Another BYC friend of mine (LoneOak) suggested using a "Street Elbow" - I think his idea might work better. -
I used a street elbow in mine which has two different kinds of ends. I cut off the hub end and inserted the spigot end into the bucket. Then I cleaned up the hub end and put it over the spigot end (with the elbow still attached) and pushed it tight against the bucket. The hub fits securely over the spigot holding it all together without any fasteners or glue.


Once you make and use this type of feeder you will NEVER use anything else again!!!!!!!!!!

I'm having a hard time finding a piece of 3" PVC to insert into the elbow to extend the opening. None of my local hardware stores carry it. Can anyone recommend an online source for it?

 

[MeepBeep]

I'm having a hard time finding a piece of 3" PVC to insert into the elbow to extend the opening. None of my local hardware stores carry it. Can anyone recommend an online source for it?

The shipping cost will be prohibitive, look for a real plumbing supply house in your area, they should have it...

 

[jimmywalt]

Lowes, Home Depot and Menards all carry 3" PVC. You might have to buy a 4 foot section though and cut it down.

If you don't have luck there contact a plumbing company (contractor), they will have 3" for sure!

 

[MeepBeep]

Lowes, Home Depot and Menards all carry 3" PVC.

Not all locations, this was one of the most frustrating things I encountered when doing home remodeling the items the big box stores stock varies by location and regional demand even many of the items that say 'Free in store pickup today' on the website when you click on them they fire back with "not sold at your local store, choose another location"...

 

[kathrync]

yeah, my Home Depot doesn't stock any 3" PVC. Which is weird, since they carry the elbows! But after spending about 20 min. in the plumbing aisle this morning, I found a 10 ft. piece of plastic irrigation pipe that fit. It was about 8 bucks.

 

[Rod-T]

yeah, my Home Depot doesn't stock any 3" PVC. Which is weird, since they carry the elbows! But after spending about 20 min. in the plumbing aisle this morning, I found a 10 ft. piece of plastic irrigation pipe that fit. It was about 8 bucks.

I think someone suggested using a street elbow. .so when you cut off bell ..save it and when you stick the street end thru hole. .you glue the bell to it.. eliminating the need for a 3 inch pipe

 

[mechanic57]

I think they are looking for the 3" tube to make the tube feeder not the bucket feeder.

 

[kathrync]

No, I built a bucket feeder. I was just trying to extend the opening so the hens can't swish the feed out.

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed in this feeder so far. My girls have only been using it for less than a day, and they're already billing the feed out onto the ground. I'm really disappointed, I had such high hopes for this feeder. My traditional hanging feeder seems to be the best at preventing waste. But it doesn't protect the feed from rain.

Before I got chickens I never realized how much time/energy would be spent trying to configure feeders and waterers! It seems like a never-ending quest

Has anyone tried adding a lip to the bottom of the opening to prevent this?

 

[Rod-T]

Ca

No, I built a bucket feeder. I was just trying to extend the opening so the hens can't swish the feed out. 

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed in this feeder so far. My girls have only been using it for less than a day, and they're already billing the feed out onto the ground. I'm really disappointed, I had such high hopes for this feeder. My traditional hanging feeder seems to be the best at preventing waste. But it doesn't protect the feed from rain. 

Before I got chickens I never realized how much time/energy would be spent trying to configure feeders and waterers! It seems like a never-ending quest   

Has anyone tried adding a lip to the bottom of the opening to prevent this?

Idk how they could get feed out..got the elbow down right. 1 inch off bottom?