Oh the horror! ((crumble mess))

[secuono]

How on earth do you guys not buy a new 50lbs bag of crumbles every 2 weeks?!
My birds are so...messy! They dump a newly filled big metal feeder((I'm guessing 10lbs feeder, not sure)) in less than 2 days. I keep scooping it off the floor and putting it back in.
The coop is turning into a deep litter and food bed!
I don't think a large pan to keep it in would help. Would a chick feeder help? They would have a harder time dumping it out with their faces and feet.
I need help!!

 

[dixie&trixie]

Get a hanging feeder

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I have a hanging feeder, but they bill out the crumbles anyway. I only use pellets now for my layers. MUCH less waste!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

1. Quit feeding them for a couple days and they will eat all the stuff that falls to the floor.


2. Only put a few pounds in the feeder at one time. Like every other day or two. They will clean up the stuff that falls out when they get hungry.

 

[chicmom]

I switched to crumbles. And I either hang my feeders up right at beak/eye level, or I have them setting up on a wooden crate at that level. I barely have any waste now. Before, I had sooo much waste, it was a shame.

 

[secuono]

What about the new born chicks and juvies? How can they reach it?
I have 3 4 day old chicks that eat out of the feeder along with the adults, too cute.
It is a hanging feeder, so is the water. I will see what I can find to hang them.

I'm making a zillion threads today, so I'll ask this here instead of making another, if that's ok with you guys?
How do I know if the birds are under weight? I can feel that bone from their neck all the way down and around under them. Kinda seems shallow on either side, but I really have no clue...

 

[BethieofVA]

I switched to pellets, which my girls really don't like. I found that if I wet the feed on the ground, under the feeder, they will gobble the spillage right up! It helps keep it tidy. I don't know why it makes it so appealing to them. LOL!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I put large black rubber pans under my hanging feeders. They catch the dropped food.

 

[Mogli]

mine spill alot of crumble feed on the coop floor too i have my hanging feeder siting on a cinder block but i guess it an,t high enoughf i dnt knw what to do them little mess makers :]

 

[FlipFlopFarmer]

i hang the feeder at just under eye level. this means they dont get their feet in the feeder. I use smaller feeders so i fill them every 2 to 3 days, on the day i refill them, i leave them out until the next day, forcing them to eat what crumbles did fall out regardless of my efforts. When i put my feeders on cinder blocks, they just jumped on the blocks and scratched the feed right out. my lil chicks waste alot, but i baby them although i do put thier feeder on an upside down jar lid or tupperware lid.