NO MORE FOOD WASTE EVER AGAIN - How To Build a DIY Zero Waste Chicken Feeder - No Mess and Clean

[jeffmaggie]

You can build this at home for less than $20 and 2 hours time
(Your feed costs will plunge by 80%)

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 ever gets on the floor because the funnel deposits into the collection container. 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!!!

 

[chfite]

If the lip on the feeder tray were taller, the birds would not be able to bill the food out. If you are experiencing 80% food waste with this feeder, that is the problem.

I don't know how many chickens you have, but what I see are having to wrangle a spot to eat.

You have quite an elegant solution to your problem. Rube Goldberg would be proud.

Chris

 

[jeffmaggie]

Thanks, I think. Not quite sure if you're sarcastic or not. 80% is an estimate. Also, I probably topped off the feeder more than I should have instead just letting them eat more off the ground, but I didn't like that route (messy, confusing to tell dirt from dirty food, and too much arbitrary $$$ wasted at my discretion) so I tried this.

I've had no problems with the chickens fighting over food space. They were all eating at once because they had not had any food in a couple of hours. I tried to make a few videos before, but they weren't demonstrating the process too well because they were full. I feel that the chickens gave a much better presentation on an empty stomach. I thought it would add to the video if the device could be seen in use.

Slight drawback to this coop is that the feed gets a little powder-like towards the end of the week. Probably due to the many refillings from the 5 gallon bucket. Feed probably just crumbles a bit more due to the friction of being jostled back into the feed tower 7 times. By the end of the week, I will take the last 20% out and mix it into kitchen leftovers. That way everything will be eaten. They don't mind the powder if it's stuck to table scraps.

You must have come across my post in search of your own way to reduce waste. What have you come up with yet? I'd love to know what other creative people (not that I'm especially creative) might be doing.


Anyway, sarcastic or not, thanks for watching and…more importantly for everyone out there…thanks for posting a reply.
Jeff

 

[MsRiderUp]

Hi,

Have watched a couple of your videos. Have a few questions:

Do you have a supplies list?
What are the dimensions of the feeder?
It looks like there are 3 'layers' to the system: 1) the screen in a square (like a sifter); this sits over 2) the funnel; which fits into: 3) another square with legs (like a table with no center). Then the funnel feeds into the bucket.

Is this correct?
If the 3 layers aren't attached to each other, do the chickens ever tip it over?

I noticed that in a beginning video you had two sides enclosed, as well as a roof. Why did you take these away in another video?

Some step-by-step photos next time you build one would be GREAT!

Thanks so much! Great idea. I want to see if I can build a few for my chickens too.

 

[MsRiderUp]

Also, couldn't you theoretically do something like use tarp material & velcro in a funnel shape? Something detachable & washable would be great, as it seems that over time the wooden funnel will get pretty gross. Do you have better ideas?