Hey everyone! I'm entirely new at this - but I'm really enjoying it. I've been raising three golden sex-link chicks for about a week, and one of them has this habit of going to the feeder and scratching the feed out onto the ground. I know that chicks like to scratch and forage for bugs and stuff, but does anyone else have a chick that kicks all the feed out of the feeder? By the end of the day, my feeder is empty and there's a big pile of feed around it - which none of the chicks eat!? I just think this is funny and was wondering if anyone had the same experience. Its adorable to watch, but annoying to have to replace the feed twice a day and clean the bedding every few days.
Mine have also done this. You could try raising the feeder a little bit so it's not at feet level. I did that and it helped. Have fun with your little fuzzy butts.
Haha. Ok, its good to know I'm not alone in this. Thanks for the suggestion of raising the feeder, I'll try that. Last night, they knocked the waterer a little so that it began pouring water over the side... the water mixed with the feed that this little guy had kicked around, and it all swelled up and started to smell. It was a nasty thing to wake up to! Ha!
Here is a really cheap solution. Buy the disposable ziplock/rubbermaid "tupperware" and cut a hole in the top with a utility knife. If you don't over fill it they can't scratch it out all over the place. Also, it will hold plenty of food for 3 chicks and doesn't take up a lot of room in the brooder. Worked perfect for me!
My last 2 lots did this as did my baby Goslings.. Raised the feed and it sorted the problem. They grew out of it mostly. I still however have 2 Geese who like to play slide in the seed each day and they are 10 months old..lol.
You need to go out and buy the small chick feeders. Yep, that is why they make 'em, chicks like to scratch at the feed it is just what they do. The little round ones with the holes on top are the best for small brooders. Have fun with the little buggers.
I have one of the small chick feeders, and she still does this. She just picks a feeding hole and stands on it and starts shoveling away! Thanks for all the advice.
Someone on this site had a brilliant idea of putting a pie plate under the feeder then at the end of the day or at some point you could collect all the fallen feed and pour it back in the feeder.
