Mold in Dine-a-chook style PVC feeder

[QueSeraSera]

I don't have pictures right this moment (I have a just-turned 2 year old and an 8 month old-- we're pretty busy around here!), but I made two Dine-a-Chook style feeders (LINK for the uninitiated) with threaded tops. I absolutely love them-- the food at the opening is always dry, the chickens seem to enjoy them, etc. However, today when I went to refill them (I've had them about a month and refill about every 5 days) and there was a crazy amount of fuzzy, nasty mold all around the top foot or so of the tube. We did have rain, but this hasn't happened before when we've had rain.

Any ideas as to how to remedy this? Also, do you absolutely have to have your feeder *inside*? We have a predator-proof, open-air hoop coop with only covering for shade, and a small shelter with one side open to the hoop coop. They only go in the shelter when it rains-- no one is laying yet, but the goal is that they will lay in there. They roost in the open air in the hoop coop.

Do I need to construct some sort of sheltered area for these?

Thanks for your help and expertise.

 

[Dine-a-Chook]

Hi,

As the designer of the Dine-a-Chook Feeder, We have never had any issues with our product. We are in Tropical North Queensland and our feeders even survived Cyclone Yasi and the week of rain that came with it. Before making the feeder commercially available for sale, we used this feeder design for over 2 years. I have never had any need to clean the unit out. We simply top it up as required.

Regards

Ryan

www.dineachook.com.au

 

[QueSeraSera]

I am glad for you. Not any mold in a single one of your feeders ever. Great! But not really helpful. I realize you have a product to sell, and that's great, so thanks for your input. But...anyone else? Bueller....? Bueller....?

Again: Do I need to make sure the feeders are completely sheltered from any possible rain? The goal, as our friend Ryan has mentioned, is to be able to simply top up. Is mold a common problem in feeders? I'm new to this....