NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Well I tried to contact the place in the NOFA-NY book and the number is not working. I did send an e-mail but have yet to hear from them. Apparently NOFA-NY has not updated this book their giving out. Not winning any points with me.

Now if I can find a place for cheaper feed I might make the drive but I don't have a truck and I don't think my van can carry 500#s. Maybe three or four.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
Yes. I'm noT a fan of mash but for the 20pc its worth it. And no "chicken by products.
But if travis can get it cheaper I'd go for it. Sarah did u get my email?

It is awfully dusty, that's the only downside but we can feed it to our chickens, duck, and pigs. And no, I didn't. I found another email I was looking for in my spam folder so I think it sent them there. Want to re-send them and I'll keep my eyes open?

ok

 

[greymane]

Quote:
When you figure two good-sized guys would be 400# easy, I bet it would hold 500#. I just brought 200# (plus 50# of rabbit feed) home in my Camry yesterday.

I know my feed is fresh because John just ground it on Monday.

 

[marquisella]

Tim, I just brought home 300 lbs in my Prius...Its like 2 adults sitting in the back seat!

Sarah, it is dusty, in fact, its dustier than normal. When they put it in the car, dropped it on the floor, a big cloud "puffed" out of the bag...much worse than normal. I was going to say something, but then was in a hurry. Since I'm using buckets for feeders, its not such a problem, once I put the feed in the bucket, the dust dispurses and it is ok. When I was using normal feeders that let the feed drop into the reservoir, the dust was worse, everytimg it dropped down the chickens would spread it all around the floor. Now, they have to stick heads into the holes & down to get the feed, and keep their heads in the buckes while eating, so any feed they flip around stays in the bucket, much better feeding, & no waste!

 

[ladylibra]

Quote:
did you make these feeders? do you have pictures?

 

[My Henny Hens]

Quote:
No waste? I LOVE that idea! do you have pics? I'd LOVE to see.

 

[ladylibra]

I posted some pics from the picnic/swap under the voorheesville thread if anyone wanted to see those. I know someone was asking a few days ago.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
No waste? I LOVE that idea! do you have pics? I'd LOVE to see.

Here are 2 photos of the bucket feeders.

You can use 3 gALLON BUCKETS from Tops backery dept. They are empty frosting buckets. They give them away free with lids.

Or, you can buy 3 or 5 gallon buckets & lids from TSC.

I use the 3 gallon buckets for shorter birds & chicks. The 5 gallon for larger birds. Make the holes big enough to fit the roosters combs. I put the holes as far up as possible while still low enough for the birds to reach the bottom of the bucket when their heads are in it. I have 4 holes evenly spaced around the bucket.

They can't spill anything, I hang the buckets from the ceilings and gauge the height according to the birds height. The chicks bucket I have on the ground, but I still tie it up so they can't tip it over. Even if they flip their beaks back & forth, the feed just stays in the buckets. I have dropped my feed bill by at least a third. All that extra was being wasted on the ground for the rodents to eat.

Another thing, you can put them outside as well. I don't think mice can get in them, unless they know how to jump up into the hole. once they jump in, they will have hard time getting out....

I fill the buckets to about an inch from the holes. If you will them up to the holes, they will flip out some until it gets too low. And, I've found that the chickens don't all rush to eat in the morning when I come in to feed because the feed is in there all day & night so they eat at their leisure, not fighting to get into the feeder like they use to before. And, not having to refill every bucket each day cuts way back on my chore time as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[ladylibra]

Quote:
No waste? I LOVE that idea! do you have pics? I'd LOVE to see.

Here are 2 photos of the bucket feeders.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/22072_bucketfeeder.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/22072_bucketfeederchicks.jpg

You can use 3 gALLON BUCKETS from Tops backery dept. They are empty frosting buckets. They give them away free with lids.

Or, you can buy 3 or 5 gallon buckets & lids from TSC.

I use the 3 gallon buckets for shorter birds & chicks. The 5 gallon for larger birds. Make the holes big enough to fit the roosters combs. I put the holes as far up as possible while still low enough for the birds to reach the bottom of the bucket when their heads are in it. I have 4 holes evenly spaced around the bucket.

They can't spill anything, I hang the buckets from the ceilings and gauge the height according to the birds height. The chicks bucket I have on the ground, but I still tie it up so they can't tip it over. Even if they flip their beaks back & forth, the feed just stays in the buckets. I have dropped my feed bill by at least a third. All that extra was being wasted on the ground for the rodents to eat.

Another thing, you can put them outside as well. I don't think mice can get in them, unless they know how to jump up into the hole. once they jump in, they will have hard time getting out....

I fill the buckets to about an inch from the holes. If you will them up to the holes, they will flip out some until it gets too low. And, I've found that the chickens don't all rush to eat in the morning when I come in to feed because the feed is in there all day & night so they eat at their leisure, not fighting to get into the feeder like they use to before. And, not having to refill every bucket each day cuts way back on my chore time as well.

Hope this helps.

cool idea, thanks for sharing!

 

[Henicillin]

I really like the bucket idea - thanks for the photos! I swear some of my crew don't think their chicken day is complete until they've tossed feed onto the floor.