My new feeders and waterers :)

[fuzzi]

They may be very similar as regard their action - same little bumps that hold the cups and allow it ti pivot to control the flow.

I had to clean out one of my intermediate waterers today, so decided to clean out and set up the five gallon bucket waterer. It works fine, but the lid I bought won't snap on

The biddies checked it out immediately!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

UPDATE: After a couple of weeks of using this port-type feeder, I have mixed feelings. While I love that it's low maintenance once filled, the birds are making a BIG MESS. The ports are supposed to keep food IN the tote, but they don't. I don't know if my birds are just extremely messy eaters or what, but they don't make this kind of mess and waste with the metal trough feeders. I'm not sure what the solution might be - maybe pellets would be better than crumbles?:

MAGNET FOR MICE AND OTHER VERMIN. I'm tempted to leave the ports closed tomorrow and let them all go hungry until they've cleaned up their mess.

Alright, I'm going to switch them over to pellets soon and see if that's an improvement.

(Edited to replace photo with a more recent one)

 

[Fuhoo]

Hey, I just started using a similar setup for my birds too. Two 5 gallon buckets, one with ports and the other with water cups.

UPDATE: After a couple of weeks of using this port-type feeder, I have mixed feelings. While I love that it's low maintenance once filled, the birds are making a BIG MESS.

Yup, I noticed that issue almost right away too. The birds stick their necks in to feed but when they pull it out they just spill it on the floor.

It's better than them burying their feeders in sand and bedding though, and I don't have a rat or vermin problem thanks to an abundance of street cats in the neighborhood so I'm choosing to live with it

 

[Chicken_man_J]

@Isadora, I was thinking the same. Cups over nipples. I currently have a 5 gallon bucket with cups externally and in the coop I have a 2 gallon bucket with cups. Have been seeing reviews on horizontal nipples and debating on switching.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Supposed to be rodent-proof.
NOT.
What I found this morning:

 

[BarnyardChaos]

That photo was yesterday. The raccoon came back, with a whole bunch of his buddies and they had a party! What I found this morning, at BOTH feeders:

Enough is enough!
I FIXED IT with a cordless drill and a few nails.

They hadn't bothered the feeder in the cockerels' camp yet, but I'm sure it would only be a matter of time. I fixed their feeder, too - but since the caps were made differently, it worked better with these to drill into the cap's handle. Same success, though - I cannot pull it out!

Yeah, so now it's a PITA to put the feeders up at night, having to fit each port with a nail - but it's still better than carrying feeders in and out of the coop twice a day for rodent control.

We'll see what tomorrow brings

 

[HensInTheForest]

That photo was yesterday. The raccoon came back, with a whole bunch of his buddies and they had a party! What I found this morning, at BOTH feeders:

Enough is enough!
I FIXED IT with a cordless drill and a few nails.

They hadn't bothered the feeder in the cockerels' camp yet, but I'm sure it would only be a matter of time. I fixed their feeder, too - but since the caps were made differently, it worked better with these to drill into the cap's handle. Same success, though - I cannot pull it out!

Yeah, so now it's a PITA to put the feeders up at night, having to fit each port with a nail - but it's still better than carrying feeders in and out of the coop twice a day for rodent control.

We'll see what tomorrow brings

Wow! Naughty things! What a total pain.

That's terrible I'm sorry.

I'm looking to build similar but our run is secure nothing can get inside.

This shape tote would have way more feeding ports than the 32 gallon plastic trash can so thanks for all the great photos!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Wow! Naughty things! What a total pain.

That's terrible I'm sorry.

I'm looking to build similar but our run is secure nothing can get inside.

This shape tote would have way more feeding ports than the 32 gallon plastic trash can so thanks for all the great photos!

You're welcome I have found over the last few weeks that this system of feeding does generate a lot of feed dust in the bottom of the tote. Before refilling the totes, I run my hand under each of the ports to clear dust and let the crumbles flow under. They still eat it, but I can see having to regularly dump the tote and maybe sift the dust out. More PITA. Oh goody. Sigh.

With less total area on the bottom of your container, I imagine the dust buildup would be increased. Watch out for that.

 

[Smokerbill]

You're welcome I have found over the last few weeks that this system of feeding does generate a lot of feed dust in the bottom of the tote. Before refilling the totes, I run my hand under each of the ports to clear dust and let the crumbles flow under. They still eat it, but I can see having to regularly dump the tote and maybe sift the dust out. More PITA. Oh goody. Sigh.

With less total area on the bottom of your container, I imagine the dust buildup would be increased. Watch out for that.

Are you mixing that dust with water and feeding to your birds? Mine love it.

 

[HensInTheForest]

You're welcome I have found over the last few weeks that this system of feeding does generate a lot of feed dust in the bottom of the tote. Before refilling the totes, I run my hand under each of the ports to clear dust and let the crumbles flow under. They still eat it, but I can see having to regularly dump the tote and maybe sift the dust out. More PITA. Oh goody. Sigh.

With less total area on the bottom of your container, I imagine the dust buildup would be increased. Watch out for that.

That makes sense. Thanks

I've fed both crumbles and pellets and see the same dust from both types in the bottom of all different kinds of feeders so maybe that's just part for the course.

I'm leaning towards the tote!

I've seen other more curved port designs but you know what's gonna happen? I will obsess trying to find just the right port to lessen or avoid spillage and it won't make any difference at all. Birds are messy!