My Chickens scratch around and cover the feeder with straw

[abhaya]

My Chickens scratch around and cover the feeder with straw I use the deep litter method I have the feeder elevated so they have to go up a step to get the food but they still kick food around and cover the feeder. Any ideas?

 

[ajaldridge]

If you figure it out please let me know. I'm having this problem with their food and water. They seem to want to cover it up. If I didn't know better I'd swear our cats taught them this!

I have yet to figure out a way to keep them from doing this. As it is I elevate them both and have even hung the food dish up to where they can reach it but can't cover it up. That resulted in them emptying the food dish completely within minutes and covering the food dish up. I'm running out of ideas. If it's not immediately eaten they hide the food.

 

[VERN]

Just in their nature to scratch at the ground. Its instinct for them to scratch. Think they just want their food below them so they jump up on the feeder and start scratching and knock out the food. Thinking that the food is all over the ground they scratch all over and end up covering the feeder. Thats just what I have noticed with my chicks. The older they get the less and less they knock food out of the feeder.