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

[aart]

Hi! I've read much of but not the whole thread, so apologies if I'm repeating a question. Do folks know if this would still work if the opening was flush or nearly flush with the bucket? Would something like using a smaller diameter pipe or raising the opening higher make any difference in eliminating wasted feed?

I'd like to make one of these to fit into a holder that I drop square 4 gallon buckets into from the top, so there's only about a half-inch clearance on the sides.

You could make it flush, if you can hold the pipe tight to the bucket.

Smaller diameter, have to be careful or their heads won't fit in there, especially large combed birds.

 

[MeepBeep]

Hi! I've read much of but not the whole thread, so apologies if I'm repeating a question. Do folks know if this would still work if the opening was flush or nearly flush with the bucket? Would something like using a smaller diameter pipe or raising the opening higher make any difference in eliminating wasted feed?

I'd like to make one of these to fit into a holder that I drop square 4 gallon buckets into from the top, so there's only about a half-inch clearance on the sides.

It should work but you can't trim the elbow and thus it would extend much further into the bucket.. The reason for no trimming is that it's the depth they have to reach into the elbow that prevents them from tossing food everywhere...

 

[hooktontravel]

Two questions:

1: how "rodent proof" is this type of feeder? I have been looking at the steel step-on lever kind, but those might be overkill?

2: is anyone in the triad, NC or Lake Norman, NC area who I could pay to make me one?

I would not call it rodent proof on its own because the feed holes are all open... HOWEVER, when I was in the hardware store getting the street elbows I noticed they have a couple of plug options. There's a simple plastic cap that can fit on... not super tight and not rodent proof on its own (and less than a buck), and there's a plug that fits into each size pipe, you turn a knob to crank it tight. I didn't get any because they were pricey -- i want to say 4 or 5 dollars each maybe? --- and I wasn't sure the setup was going to work yet. It would be kind of a pain to go in and put in 4 of these plugs in my feeder each night, but I do think they would make it rodent proof. Don't know if that helps any.

 

[hooktontravel]

Hi! I've read much of but not the whole thread, so apologies if I'm repeating a question. Do folks know if this would still work if the opening was flush or nearly flush with the bucket? Would something like using a smaller diameter pipe or raising the opening higher make any difference in eliminating wasted feed?

I'd like to make one of these to fit into a holder that I drop square 4 gallon buckets into from the top, so there's only about a half-inch clearance on the sides.

I think that would be okay. it's the curve inside that's more important for keeping the chickens from dumping the feed all over. If the opening is high (I assume you mean higher up the side of the bucket) then there would be more food below, but the chicken can't necessarily reach his/her head all the way in to make use of it and you'd have more leftovers in the bottom of the bucket at the end. I have 4 month old chickens right now, and there are 2 inch and 4 inch elbows in my feeder. I expect they will be less-interested in the 2 inch ones as their heads & combs get bigger.


The only question I have in terms of making it flush with the bucket is how would it stay in place? that's the one thing where if the elbow extends through the wall of the bucket you just seal around it (in my case with tape, others use silicone) and so you're not joining an edge from the pipe to the edge of the opening hole. I bet there's a way.

I'd definitely say give it a try! cut the pipe off on the outside so it won't stick out so far and just figure out how to hold it in place. if it's only 1/2 inch on each side I think that would give you enough...if it's 1/2 inch total that might be a little harder... Good luck with it!

 

[lauren212]

I made this feeder but they just stick their head in and swipe all the food onto the ground. They basically use their beaks as a shovel. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[BlueBaby]

Thanks for the instructions. I am all for anything that makes things easier or less messy.

 

[NewChickmom2016]

Thanks to the inspiration of this thread- my husband just finished our "no waste" feeder.

I purchased a "pet food storage" container from Target http://www.target.com/p/boots-barkley-dog-feeding-storage-10-lb/-/A-14493878
And he purchased 2 pvc elbows- I believe they were 2 1/2" - and did not have the "cuff" on the edges like some of the pics in this thread. He did cut the outside edge off so that the bottom is pretty flush to the container and also cut down the side inside the container. There is also a feeder on the back side of the container.
For our small flock of 3- I think this will be the perfect dry feeder. They got the hang of it pretty quick- just took a few dry mealworms dropped inside the opening!
My husband also made a piece of wood for the top- much easier to scrap the poop off of that than to have to get it off of the container lid.
I don't have too much food in it right now- they will be switching over to layer food in a few weeks and did not want to fill the container at this time.
We feed fermented food morning and night- this feeder is for the times when we aren't home for their regular feeding.
Thanks again for all the info- this feeder is not something we would have thought of- and so glad we saw it here! No more spilled and wasted dry food!
-Jerie

 

[MeepBeep]

I made this feeder but they just stick their head in and swipe all the food onto the ground. They basically use their beaks as a shovel. Anyone else have this problem?

Generaly this is because the elbow isn't deep/long enough... Do you have pictures?

 

[lauren212]

That could be why...I have two and they are only dumping from one. One was cut shorter than the other because they didn't want to eat out of the first one. The bucket was a bit tilted so I levelled it out see if that helps first. I have a pic but it's hard to see.

 

[MyChicksRBuff]

I made a 2-hole feeder, using this design. Awesome idea. How long does it normally takes the chickens to figure it out? I put the new bucket feeder in a couple days ago and filled the holes up by hand a bit with feed so they could see it easier and figure it out. Well they ate all of that, and now the feed is further down in the bucket, where they would have to stretch their heads further. It seems like they're not touching it anymore. I watched them in the camera this morning, for about 30 minutes after they all came out of the coop. None of them are eating from it. I've thought about maybe trimming the PVC part thats in the bucket, so that it doesnt go as deep, essentially making the feed level a little higher where they could see and it and get to it easier. Any ideas?