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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.
I made one for my youngsters because they were ssooo wasteful. What a difference! Just finished one for the adults. Love 'em!
