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

[CoChiChick]

Would this work for ducks?

My ducks use a PVC feeder with no problems. One is a blue swedish, and 1 an Indian runner

 

[aart]

This is mine.

How's that working out? Does feed get hung up on the foam blobs?

So the original author is not known.

I would love to know who made that thing, it's brilliant.

 

[paneubert]

How's that working out? Does feed get hung up on the foam blobs?

I would love to know who made that thing, it's brilliant.

A small amount of feed does sit on the blobs, but not any significant amount and it is easy to brush it off the blobs once the feed gets below that level. So it is a once per filling/once per 50 pound bag of feed issue. I could shave/cut the blobs so that they are sloped, but if I do that then I should probably empty the feeder first so I don't start introducing expanding foam shavings and dust into their food

I also would love to know the original source of the cutaway photos. There are a couple others that show scenarios such as feeding multiple different feeds in one bucket, via use of dividing walls. So each port (I think they show examples up to 3 separate chambers/3 ports), has access to a completely different feed. I don't see how this would be worth the effort for feed, but could be used to provide oyster shell and grit separate for example.

 

[jp_over]

Excellent feeder idea!

How many weeks old do the chicks (RIR) need to be to use it?

 

[blackdog043]

Excellent feeder idea!

How many weeks old do the chicks (RIR) need to be to use it?

My chicks use the feeder with the 3 inch elbows at 4 weeks. I put the feeders up on a platform so the elbows aren't up to high and it keeps the bedding out. This was during integration with the big girls, I have three feeders available. Two of the ports on the feeder to the left hang over the platform, so the big girls can eat from it. After they are big enough, I use cap blocks to set my feeders on.

 

[NAA60512]

Here's mine. 8 ports, I did not use glue, silicon, or hardware to hold the street elbows in. Holds 150#, been using it for a little more than two years.

 

[clickncluck]

My last chicken probably died from a mouse transmitted disease, so I was determined to try and make a watered and feeding system that would keep them safe.
The horizontal nipples don’t leak and your chickens will definitely figure it out. This is the best way to keep rodent pee and droppings from getting into your chickens water.
The feeder was more difficult. I started with the pvc pipe system but it was very expensive getting all the connectors. It didn’t hold much feed. It was a royal pain to refill. And there is moldy feed at the bottom. So then I went to the Muddy Hill Farm Bucket Feeder. This has been great. And you can definitely make one but pvc connectors aren’t cheap I’m feeding 4 speckled Sussex with one feeder.
I got mine from Amazon.
Good luck.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

I just built one of these using a 5-gallon bucket. I did have to use some epoxy to hold the elbow in place, even with the cutoff sleeve placed on the outer lip of the elbow. As stated I did use a 3.5" hole saw. Just had a little play that I didn't want to leave as-is.

I also mad one for my brother, who has about 8 hens. Made a triple elbow version fro him.

Great feeder.

Oh, currently Home Depot has 5 gallon buckets with the choice of the troublesome snap-on lid or the 2-piece screw on lid, which is what I chose. Great lid.

TWG

 

[MandaRae]

Would a 45* work? Or is the 90 the best?

 

[RoosterML]

Would a 45* work? Or is the 90 the best?

Go with a 90