Need help with my PVC feeder - Chickens throwing food on ground.

[jetdog]

I used a 3inch hole saw and put clear caulking to keep them in place they were pretty tight though. Then I took a sawz all to cut the pipe just had to file the plastic burrs off the edges. I cut it where the elbow bends just cut it off straight. Of course do this before you cut the bucket.

 

[JuniorMint]

This is what I did to prevent feed spillage on the end of my whye. I just cut a 3" piece of the sewer pipe into a U shape and added it to output angle of the whye.

 

[jimmywalt]

Well its full of food holds about a month's worth of food. I used 3inch 90degree elbows I put two but you can use 4 depending on the size of your flock.I cut the elbow so it's about 3/4 of an inch off the bottom of the bucket as they eat more food trickles in.No wasted food because they can't fling it around. Just put a little food on the edges mine were eating in less than 5 minutes.

So you cut the PVC elbow AND made the hole so that it's 3/4" off the bottom?? Like where I drew the red line on this picture? You shoved the part with the red line into the bucket (facing the bottom)?

 

[jetdog]

Yes, exactly I put a little caulking to make sure no water gets in, mine is out in the run.

 

[jimmywalt]

Yes, exactly I put a little caulking to make sure no water gets in, mine is out in the run.

Made mine tonight. Waiting for caulk to dry. Will try it with the chickens tomorrow.

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[jetdog]

Looks good I put 2 just in case there is fighting, just put a little food on the edges so they can see it you'll be surprised how fast they catch on. Let me know how things go.

 

[jimmywalt]

Looks good I put 2 just in case there is fighting, just put a little food on the edges so they can see it you'll be surprised how fast they catch on. Let me know how things go.

Got it all set up in the coop this morning and seems to be working good. I only have 5 chickens so I think the 1 hole should be fine.... We will see. Thanks so much for showing us your design. It was very creative!

 

[jimmywalt]

Looks good I put 2 just in case there is fighting, just put a little food on the edges so they can see it you'll be surprised how fast they catch on. Let me know how things go.

Hey jetdog.......... what am I doing wrong?

Mine is just like yours (I believe) and they are pulling food out of it and throwing it on the ground. :-(

I am feeding them layer pellets.

Here's a picture of the mess. :-(

 

[jetdog]

Maybe it's not close enough to the bottom of the bucket, that really surprises me mine don't throw anyout, I am feeding them layer crumbles so I would think that the crumbles would be easier to throw out. Unless they are in a panic trying to get at the food at the same time with one hole?

 

[jimmywalt]

Maybe it's not close enough to the bottom of the bucket, that really surprises me mine don't throw anyout, I am feeding them layer crumbles so I would think that the crumbles would be easier to throw out. Unless they are in a panic trying to get at the food at the same time with one hole?

It's about 1" from the bottom, but you can see from the mess that they are pulling it out and throwing it on the floor. What I did was remove the bucket after taking this picture. They are going to be forced to eat the food on the floor before I give them any more. I just can't waste this stuff at $17 per 50# bag.

Mine are ISA Browns. Maybe they are just messy eaters.... I don't know.