Messy birds?

[dtj1968]

How do i stop my chickens from doing this? They now spread their feed all over floor of their coop, then will not eat it from the floor! They are now wasting about 10-20 lbs every week, it has gotten ridiculous. I have even left dish empty for day or two after they do this, and datn thing will almost starve to death.... but will never eat food they put onto floor.

 

[Ameraucanas]

http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/diy-no-spill-chicken-feeder/

 

[DigMyChicks]

I use an old baby pig feeder that my neighbor gave me and it works great! They do not make any mess with it.

 

[dtj1968]

DigMyChicks what does that baby pig feeder look like? Thanks

 

[DigMyChicks]

[COLOR=0066CC]DigMyChicks[/COLOR] what does that baby pig feeder look like?  Thanks

 

[dtj1968]

Thank you so much!

 

[DigMyChicks]

No problem!

 

[rebrascora]

Also, if you are mixing corn or scratch into their pellets, that will cause them to bill it out looking for the "best bits" and wasting the pellets. Similarly with oyster shell. It's always best to have that in a separate bowl and only put the pellets in the feeder.
I have to say mine are very good and waste nothing. I mix some of their pellets (particularly the powdery stuff left in the bottom of the feeder) with water and leave it overnight so that it has a porridge consistency (sometimes I mix in some natural yoghurt) and I give them that in an old frying pan as well as their dry pellets that are available at all times in their feeder. I have an old spatula that I use to scrape the pan out when they are finished and they eat the scrapings off the spatula.... as I said.... no waste at all at my yard.

 

[dtj1968]

No, I do not mix anything in with their feed. They get scratch most every day (usually just plain old corn - or table scraps), but that I just throw out to them, to keep them friendly, so they run towards me most of time instead of shying away. But, good thoughts on that part. Oyster shell is available in separate bowl in coop as well. I will attempt to modify my feeder or buy new one, this week!
Thanks so much for everyone's help!