Need recommendations!! Feeder that the chickens can access but not the rats!

[Momsteere]

With a large flock of poultry, we have also attracted rats! Gives me the creeps to see them hop out of the feeder when I open the hen door! Anyone have experience with feeders like Grandpa's Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder - Standard (20lb Feed Capacity)?? Thanks for feedback.

 

[pdirt]

My wife built a treadle feeder, it works great! Keeps the mice out, fortunately no rats here. Ours is made of wood (pine) and it showing some wear after 2 years, but it still working fine. I think the Grandpa feeders are made from metal? If so, they should last a very long time.



Another option some folks do is to feed meals. Feed once or twice a day, not more than they can clean up in about 30 minutes. It might take a week or so to learn how much is enough but not too much. Don't leave a feeder out with feed in it. Just feed the meals and since they clean it all up, there isn't anything for rats to get into.

If you decide to feed meals, this type of feeder (made from 3' of vinyl rain gutter) makes it so many can eat at once. About 14 chickens can eat from the 3' section at once: