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

[eranfaraway]

This is brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing!

Did you use a 3 1/2" hole saw with the no-glue street elbow with flange version? I have to special order that and want to make sure I get the right thing the first time!

Again, you have my utmost gratitude for sharing this! This will be a huge feed saver on the soggy Oregon coast!

 

[lynnehd]

I'd also like to confirm if you used at 3.5" hole saw for the 3" flange? Also it looks like the bucket heater is underneath the bucket waterer in a separate overturned container? Thanks!

 

[COChix]

I'd also like to confirm if you used at 3.5" hole saw for the 3" flange? Also it  looks like the bucket heater is underneath the bucket waterer in a separate overturned container? Thanks!

We used a 90 degree street elbow, no flange. Didn't see any with a flange at Home Depot when we were there looking. We used a 3 inch hole saw to cut the holes. Some of the holes were a little off so had to caulked on the inside of the bucket, that way they are sealed from the elements and so the chickens won't eat it. The gang did eat some out of it, just not sure my pvc sits high enough for the feed to flow up into the pipe. Might need some adjustments but going to give it time. The gang had no issues eating from it.

On the waterer set up, I have the bucket sitting in a heated dog bowl, but the bowl is not plugged in. The dog bowls on top of the milk crates are the right height for our flock. The dog bowl has sand in it for weight and the 5 gallon bucket sits on it, the K & H heater is actually submersed in the bucket. The buckets are now secured to the side of the run with a bungy around it in case it gets knocked.

I have seen the bucket nipple waterers raised on bricks, pavers, stacked wood, hung and other various options, it really is what works best for you and what you can use that maybe you already have laying around. Just keep in mind you want it about neck high on the birds. My understanding is if they are too low it forces the chickens to turn their beaks more sideways and thus more water dribbles out and can make for wet bedding if using in the coop. This is just what I have read on here, I don't know if that is true or not. We had a lot of milk crates and two heated water bowls(our former flock waterer) so I used those things.

 

[lynnehd]

Thank you! So a 3" hole saw for a 3" elbow (I think some people mentioned using larger hole saws, but it does seem like there would be a gap?). Anyway, very helpful.

 

[vehve]

Yeah, better to use a slightly too small hole saw than a too big one. You can always sand the hole bigger if it won't fit, but having it sit loosely means you have to figure something else out.

 

[KIWI CHICK]

I have a silly question......would sparrows (rats-on-wings!) be able to steal food from this style of feeder? I would guess that they would, but hoping someone will say not! I have treadled feeders, but some of my girls haven't mastered the art of eating out of them yet.

 

[Alaskan]

I haven't yet seen the wild birds eat out of mine.... but I don't have a big problem with birds...

I mostly have a rodent problem.. and I haven't yet seen them eat out of it... but I have put the feeder in a big wide open area, to make it harder for the rodents to get to the feeder without the birds trying to eat them.

 

[COChix]

I haven't yet seen the wild birds eat out of mine....  but I don't have a big problem with birds...

I mostly have a rodent problem.. and I haven't yet seen them eat out of it...  but I have put the feeder in a big wide open area, to make it harder for the rodents to get to the feeder without the birds trying to eat them.

Don't know on wild birds eating out of ours as our buckets are enclosed run. We have alot of mice due to being in a rural setting and we are across from an open space glad to hear this will help. Do you cap your pvc at night?

 

[Alaskan]

I don't cap at night.... but it would be a great idea if your rodents keep coming to the feeder.

 

[COChix]

I don't cap at night.... but it would be a great idea if your rodents keep coming to the feeder.

We have a lot of mice as I stated so we will be capping at night.