Messy eaters - how to stop spilling?

[devilkin]

Hi,

We have this feeder (where the chickens have to stand on the metal tray to open it up)

Originally we started with a mix of broken grains + mash (as they had been reared on mash) and switched over using just broken grains after 3 months.

As you can see, they're quite the messy eaters, managing to block the feeder open and spilling a ton.
Is there a way to fix this? Elevating won't work (since they still have to stand on the tray to open it) - or is it better to look for a different feeder alltogether?

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Hi,

We have this feeder (where the chickens have to stand on the metal tray to open it up)

View attachment 3941933
Originally we started with a mix of broken grains + mash (as they had been reared on mash) and switched over using just broken grains after 3 months.

As you can see, they're quite the messy eaters, managing to block the feeder open and spilling a ton.
Is there a way to fix this? Elevating won't work (since they still have to stand on the tray to open it) - or is it better to look for a different feeder alltogether?

I’d look for a different feeder all together, chickens will kick the food because in the wild they move leaves around to get to the food. I like these feeders, but the bucket won’t work for roosters because they’re combs are too big.

 

[devilkin]

Most of these are rather attractive to rodents, I think? Except perhaps the bottom one?

I guess they'll have to re-train on the feeder with the bottom one...

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Most of these are rather attractive to rodents, I think? Except perhaps the bottom one?

I guess they'll have to re-train on the feeder with the bottom one...

I don’t have rodents because of my cats so I honestly don’t know. I personally don’t waste food so I feed the daily amount required for all my birds and make sure everyone’s crops are full after feeding so foods never out longer than like 20 minutes.

 

[Granny23]

I’d look for a different feeder all together, chickens will kick the food because in the wild they move leaves around to get to the food. I like these feeders, but the bucket won’t work for roosters because they’re combs are too big.View attachment 3941972View attachment 3941973View attachment 3941974View attachment 3941975

I have 4 hens and use the 5 gallon buckets with the holes cut out like the picture above. I was hoping that would stop all the food waste but it did not! It's still ALL OVER the ground.
They took to it really quickly but it sure didn't stop them from tossing it everywhere.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

I have 4 hens and use the 5 gallon buckets with the holes cut out like the picture above. I was hoping that would stop all the food waste but it did not! It's still ALL OVER the ground.
They took to it really quickly but it sure didn't stop them from tossing it everywhere.

Only one of my hens does this but when she does another hen will sit there eating all of the food so there is no mess, but I spill food in a line on the ground in the amount they all need so I’m not wasting money on them wanting more than they need. After they’re fed I feel everybody’s crops to make sure they’re all full

 

[SueT]

They are more likely to spill the feed if there are a variety of things to pick through. I give my flock 20% pellets (Kalmbach) and there is never a mess. They like it so much, they clean up any occasionally spilled pellets.
Make sure your feed is fresh, (check dates). not funky smelling. I put out new fresh feed every day in clean feeders.

 

[Lillith37]

I have something similar to the tube feeder or bucket feeder pictured above. It has an overhang to stop the rain, but I still angle it away from the prevailing winds. Works fine, no spillage, and fine for birds with large combs. But the starlings can fly in and the rats can jump in so if you have uncontrolled pests of those natures, or an unsecured coop/run, you’ll need inevitably have issues.

 

[Loving my girls]

Ooo err an all you can eat buffet for rodents.

Yep another feeder is definitely needed. Here’s a picture of mine. No waste so far …

 

[FrostRanger]

If you use a bucket port feeder, I'd use pellets. While a few pellets here and there get wasted, someone comes along to clean it up