My chickens have started spilling their feed frequently. What do I do?

[CinnamonQueen]

Our feeder is just a gravity feeder meant for dog food. It has never had any problems for the year that we've used it. Recently I noticed that there is a bunch of feed scattered all over the ground. We've had rainy weather recently so the spilled feed is getting really gross in the mud...

How do you clean up a feed spill, and what can I do to stop the waste of feed?

 

[disrhythmic]

We had the same problem. I don't know if the hens were just playing in the food or if the multitude of finches we're attracting had something to do with it, but there was food -everywhere-. We ended up ditching the gravity feeder for a little trough about three or four feet wide (we have six birds). We fill a gallon milk jug about 1/3 full, pour it in the trough, and let them pick it clean. I'm sure a little is lost to the other birds and maybe some rodents, but we're going through food a lot slower now. Plus they'll even eat the little powdery stuff too (it seems, anyway) instead of wasting it.

 

[five is my dog]

i jut use a medal trench with a medal cover you can get it at a feed store.

 

[Rich386]

HERE IS AN IDEA TO HELP WITH FOOD WASTE.
10 1/2" WIDE 5" HIGH
MORE INFO? SEND A PM



ALSO COMES IN THIS SMALLER SIZE

 

[Rich386]

HERE IS AN IDEA TO HELP WITH FOOD WASTE.
10 1/2" WIDE 5" HIGH
MORE INFO? SEND A PM



ALSO COMES IN THIS SMALLER SIZE

 

[CinnamonQueen]

HERE IS AN IDEA TO HELP WITH FOOD WASTE.
10 1/2" WIDE 5" HIGH
MORE INFO? SEND A PM



ALSO COMES IN THIS SMALLER SIZE

What does that do?

 

[Angelicisi]

Pvc pipe feeder, pretty easy to make, cuts waste big time. There's a YouTube guy that does videos on how to assemble for cheap.

I had this problem and switched to fermented feed. It cut waste to almost zero but is a tad more time consuming at feeding time. Worth it to me for my tiny flock, harder for a larger flock I'd think.

 

[LoneOak]

CinnamonGueen, that black part bolts to the bottom of any container with a hole cut in it to match the opening. The feed gravity flows through the center cone into the four chambers around the center. There are riser pieces that divide the chambers and the theory is they will not be able to scatter the feed out on the ground because of the dividers.

I built a pvc feeder similar to the one on you tube but instead of glueing my parts together I used #8 x 1/2" self tapping sheet metsl screws to put it together in case I want to change it or move it latter. Darn thing works so good I'm proud of myself. I don't have a picture right now but I'll try to get some soon.

 

[jeffmaggie]

This is something that I came up about a month ago to solve my anxiety regarding the epic waste of feed that is "normal" for chicken feeding. I was going through a large feeder every other day. Most of it ended up in the dirt, and the chickens didn't seem too eager to eat it. Rather, they'd act all hungry and trick me into filling the feeder.
So after months of seeing all this waste money fall on the floor and morph into dirt, I came up with this idea of a gravity feeder system. It's not only efficient because everything gets sent back up top, but it's incredibly clean too. Not a spec of feed on the floor. EVERYTHING goes into the collection receptacle.
It works via gravity. Place the source on top of a wire mesh screen floor, that sits over a funnel, which sits over a collection container.
I'm not trying to sell anything and I don't have any plans, just done from my head, but you will get the idea and be able to make your own. Please check out the link to several of my chicken videos on this topic. Thanks, Jeff
I've made 4 video variations so far.
DIY Zero Waste Bulk Gravity Chicken Feeder/Waterer Saves Money $$$

DIY "No-Waste" Gravity Chicken Feeder - SAVES $$$ MONEY

DIY ZERO-WASTE GRAVITY CHICKEN FEEDER!!!

DIY Bulk Gravity Chicken Feeder Recycles All Food - Zero Waste!!!

 

[Angelicisi]

Great DIY! I switched to FF for my tiny flock, this looks just as effective in waste control, no ferment needed!

This is something that I came up about a month ago to solve my anxiety regarding the epic waste of feed that is "normal" for chicken feeding. I was going through a large feeder every other day. Most of it ended up in the dirt, and the chickens didn't seem too eager to eat it. Rather, they'd act all hungry and trick me into filling the feeder.
So after months of seeing all this waste money fall on the floor and morph into dirt, I came up with this idea of a gravity feeder system. It's not only efficient because everything gets sent back up top, but it's incredibly clean too. Not a spec of feed on the floor. EVERYTHING goes into the collection receptacle.
It works via gravity. Place the source on top of a wire mesh screen floor, that sits over a funnel, which sits over a collection container.
I'm not trying to sell anything and I don't have any plans, just done from my head, but you will get the idea and be able to make your own. Please check out the link to several of my chicken videos on this topic. Thanks, Jeff
I've made 4 video variations so far.
DIY Zero Waste Bulk Gravity Chicken Feeder/Waterer Saves Money $$$

DIY "No-Waste" Gravity Chicken Feeder - SAVES $$$ MONEY

DIY ZERO-WASTE GRAVITY CHICKEN FEEDER!!!

DIY Bulk Gravity Chicken Feeder Recycles All Food - Zero Waste!!!