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

[flyin-lowe]

If you look at my photo above you can see the street elbow I used had a small round "knob" (for lack of better terms) sticking up. It is about the size of three dimes stacked up. I set my elbow inside the bucket and marked a line where the top was with a sharpie. Then I put it on the outside and lined up the mark and traced around it. I used a rotozip type tool to cut out the circle. Once I pushed the elbow through the hole I cut out the knob keeps it from going all the way through. When I positioned my second elbow I have them so the backs are touching each other. This will also keep them from being able to be pushed back in from the outside. Once I dumped the feed in the weight of the feed also keeps them from moving. So far so good. Love this feeder. I am not sure if all street elbows have this little raised knob on the top of them or not.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I drilled 4" holes, about 1/8" smaller all around vs the street end of the elbow, cleaned the cut edge with sand paper to remove all the 'fuzzies' and then using a heat gun on both sides of the tub softened up the plastic around the hole, then rammed the elbow through the hole for a very tight formed fit...

I used this cheap hole saw set, with a 20% off coupon it was only $13.59, cheaper then any other local store would sell a single 4" hole saw and since it was for a simple job like this I was not worried about quality...

http://www.harborfreight.com/34-in-5-in-carbon-steel-hole-saw-set-18-pc-68115.html

If you look at my photo above you can see the street elbow I used had a small round "knob" (for lack of better terms) sticking up. It is about the size of three dimes stacked up.  I set my elbow inside the bucket and marked a line where the top was with a sharpie.  Then I put it on the outside and lined up the mark and traced around it.  I used a rotozip type tool to cut out the circle.  Once I pushed the elbow through the hole I cut out the knob keeps it from going all the way through.  When I positioned my second elbow I have them so the backs are touching each other.  This will also keep them from being able to be pushed back in from the outside.  Once I dumped the feed in the weight of the feed also keeps them from moving.  So far so good.  Love this feeder.  I am not sure if all street elbows have this little raised knob on the top of them or not.

Thank you both for the info! I think I'll look into that kit!

 

[mrscalvi]

I'm loving this design and the fact that I can save on food waste! My question is: At what age do you think my chicks can use this? I've got 46 chicks in my brooders and they make a HUGE mess with their feed! How soon after they upgrade to the outside coop should they be able to use this? I have bantam EEs, Cornish Rock X, New Hampshire Reds, Ameraucanas, a polish and a feather footed mystery chick that they put in the box. I also have two full grown Buff Orps.

 

[Fuzzbutt28]

I would say right away.I have Rhode island reds.I had chicks a week old use it..They follow the others and learn very quickly.....I get used small frosting buckets at walmart from the cake department(I think its a 2 gallon).They sell them with lids for $1...I made a small one for my baby chicks and used a smaller pvc elbow....works great...I also caulked the inside of mine with clear caulk to prevent water from leaking in. Make sure you let it cure/dry for a few days before you use it.

 

[mrscalvi]

Great! Thank you! Mine are all 2 weeks and older so I'm going to head to Walmart! I'll post pictures and updates!

 

[bantambarnyard]

This is awesome! Thank you!

 

[Fuzzbutt28]

I myself did NOT use a 4 inch hole punch.After lining up the elbow I traced the hole around the elbow.I just drilled a starter hole with a big bit on the bucket and then used my jig saw to cut the hole.I also cut the hole on the inside of the circle I traced so it would be a tight fit.I then drilled 2 or 3 BIG holes on the top side of the elbow to help more food fall around the feed opening.I still use the smaller bucket feeder in the hen house in the winter as a back up feeder(sometimes they didn't want to come out in the snow) and the hens can get the feed out even with the smaller hole.I lightly sanded any cut edges just to make sure my girls wouldn't get hurt.

"Water Bucket"
I also made my own 5 gallon water bucket with chicken nipples on the bottom of the bucket .All it takes is a bucket,lid ,drill and a package of poultry nipples.You drill the holes in the bottom of the bucket(the package tells you what size drill bit you need) ,twist in the water nipples and fill it .If you make a water bucket make sure to Drill a tiny air hole in the lid to release the suction or the water wont flow correctly.I had one bucket fall ,the handle broke due to the weight with the water in it.I now have it secured with a plastic coated wire chain/cord.(Like they use for dog runs) It has worked fine for the last year...

 

[mg15]

I brought home 9 pullets a week and a half ago. At first I had a cheap feeder from Rural King that holds seven pounds. I was filling it every day to 2 days, no doubt they were wasting a lot of feed. I was thinking I was going to go broke feeding them. After the fourth day I built one of these feeders and filled it up. I didn't weigh the feed but the title says 5 gallons is 25 pounds. Anyway its been about a week and as of last night it was still 50 % full. They have used less feed in the week with this feeder then they did he first three days with a normal feeder. I am sold on this design.

What does this feeder look like on the inside of it ? I need a different feeder due to waste and the bantam cannot get that high up on the one I have now. Thanks.

 

[COChix]

For those wondering if chicks will use these feeders...last year chicks.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I didn't take any pictures of the inside. On the right hand side of this page you can see the images in this thread. If you hit view all there is a bunch of pictures other took of the inside of theirs. Some people put a shim under the elbow on the inside to raise it off the bottom so the feed can fall under it and the birds can reach it. I just cut off an inch or so off of the bottom of the elbow (closest to the chickens) that the food falls into. Basically the back edge of the elbow acts as a shim. Hopefully that made sense.