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

[MyChicksRBuff]

I made this feeder awhile back, and it worked fine up until yesterday. I went in the coop to clean up and check water and feed, and I noticed feed all over the floor in front of the bucket,

Has anyone else been having the same problem? Geese it worked great up til yesterday.

I went out to the coop this afternoon and was watching them throw the feed out again.

any Ideas what I can do to stop the waste ?
thank you

Did you change your feed up at all? Or add anything to it? I had my bucket filled with pellet feed, then dumped a bit of sunflower seeds in the bucket. When the seeds made their way to the bottom and they found it, they dug at the feed with their beaks and scattered it all over the place going after the sunflower seeds. As long as its all boring pellet feed I dont have that problem, as theres nothing exciting in there for them to dig for. If you didnt add anything, it could have even been roaches or bugs or something in it that they were going after.

 

[junkman56]

Did you change your feed up at all? Or add anything to it? I had my bucket filled with pellet feed, then dumped a bit of sunflower seeds in the bucket. When the seeds made their way to the bottom and they found it, they dug at the feed with their beaks and scattered it all over the place going after the sunflower seeds. As long as its all boring pellet feed I dont have that problem, as theres nothing exciting in there for them to dig for. If you didnt add anything, it could have even been roaches or bugs or something in it that they were going after.

I did add sunflower seeds and raw pumpkin seeds to their feed

 

[aart]

Quote: Mystery Solved!!

Best to feed those separately as 'treats' I guess, huh?

 

[junkman56]

Mystery Solved!!

Best to feed those separately as 'treats' I guess, huh?

I will be removing those items from their feed, and just give them as treats,
I Imagine it might take some time until they figure out the goodies are gone, and they stop tossing it out of the feeder
thank you

 

[hooktontravel]

Try one of these?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder

I really like the looks of that feeder. My bucket, however, is outside in all weather. the smaller holes, with the cuffs on the elbows sticking out, keeps much more of blowing rain & snow out of the eating area. (I even left it out in last week's 'blizzard' conditions and only a bit of snow collected on the windward side. I scooped it out with my fingers after - no harm, no foul! no problem with soggy food.) I can put half of a 50-lb bag of grain into it and it lasts several weeks before I need to refill, with only 5 birds out there. If I ever end up with a big enough house that I try feeding the birds inside I would definitely have a go at the funnel feeder!

 

[MyChicksRBuff]

I will be removing those items from their feed, and just give them as treats,
I Imagine it might take some time until they figure out the goodies are gone, and they stop tossing it out of the feeder
thank you

For mine they stopped throwing the feed out as soon as the sunflower seeds were gone.

 

[junkman56]

For mine they stopped throwing the feed out as soon as the sunflower seeds were gone.

I took out the seeds and the problem seems to have stopped...... I hope

thank you

 

[TaylorVanGundy]

Hi I have made this but using a tub.. so same concept.. I'm having a problem with wasted feed tho.. I was wondering if this is normal?

 

[RobPS]

I like the look of your feeder using that square, clear tub! I am using one that I made from a square bucket with only one feeding "port," and I'm using it with quail. I have zero waste. I can't even imagine how my birds could waste seed if they wanted to, other than taking some in their mouth, pulling out of the feeding "port," then dropping it on the ground? Is that what your birds are doing?

 

[hooktontravel]

Hi I have made this but using a tub.. so same concept.. I'm having a problem with wasted feed tho.. I was wondering if this is normal?

What elbows do you have? are they 90 degree? and is the food a pellet or a mix with various things? some birds will toss out the bits they don't like as well from a mix...
I can see they have food scooped up on the edges of the elbows. My guys do that with the little ports on mine, and the ones where I cut away too much of the PVC. when I traded for newer elbows without so much cut away it stopped that problem.