Preparing for my first time raising baby chicks

[Chicken_man_J]

Going to look at getting a metal one as my current "rodent proof" gamma vittles vault's lid was chew threw by rats in my shed and had to purchase a replacement lid from tractor supply and bought a JT Eaton repeater mouse and put feed inside it and placed it next to the feed. No damage to new lid and haven't caught a mouse.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Should I build one that fits inside the coop? If I were going to purchase one any recommendations? In addition to squirrels, will this keep out rats?Will this keep out rats Should They have access to food even when they are older laying age? Someone previously told me on my prior hens to feed in the morning or early afternoon.

Building your own is a lot cheaper in materials IF you are very handy with tools and have the time to work out the kinks in the design. A wood feeder like Stinky Acres made will do the job if kept under cover and dry. Might have some chewing on it but just patch it up if they do.

If you want to to put the feeder outside you will need to purchase a metal feeder and place it facing away from the prevailing winds/storm path. To defeat squirrels you will need a heavy lid or a heavy spring tension on the doors. The majority of treadle feeders use the guillotine style lid, going up and down, and the manufactured ones have to use a light weight lid to prevent too many crushed chickens. We never went down that road, preferring the much safer inward swinging door and it needs two strong springs to put enough tension on the door that a squirrel or two cannot push the door open.

If you had a lot of squirrels, they might learn to push the door open but they will wind up trapped behind the door. Just lift the feeder off the mounting cleat, pour the feed out into a bag or bucket, then either take the squirrels for a ten mile road trip, put an exhaust hose down into the feeder and close the lid, or set the entire thing in a barrel of water for a half hour. Then shake the stupid tree rats out into the garbage. It rarely happens twice.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Building your own is a lot cheaper in materials IF you are very handy with tools and have the time to work out the kinks in the design. A wood feeder like Stinky Acres made will do the job if kept under cover and dry. Might have some chewing on it but just patch it up if they do.

If you want to to put the feeder outside you will need to purchase a metal feeder and place it facing away from the prevailing winds/storm path. To defeat squirrels you will need a heavy lid or a heavy spring tension on the doors. The majority of treadle feeders use the guillotine style lid, going up and down, and the manufactured ones have to use a light weight lid to prevent too many crushed chickens. We never went down that road, preferring the much safer inward swinging door and it needs two strong springs to put enough tension on the door that a squirrel or two cannot push the door open.

If you had a lot of squirrels, they might learn to push the door open but they will wind up trapped behind the door. Just lift the feeder off the mounting cleat, pour the feed out into a bag or bucket, then either take the squirrels for a ten mile road trip, put an exhaust hose down into the feeder and close the lid, or set the entire thing in a barrel of water for a half hour. Then shake the stupid tree rats out into the garbage. It rarely happens twice.

I see you make feeders. My hens are only 5 weeks and too small to use a feeder beside what I use know. Would rather buy locally or support s small business in the United States. I see you sell and make metal feeders. I want to get a metal feeder and debating if it should be inside the coop while they will be free ranging daily allowing them to forage. What do you recommend? They will not be free ranging until 10 -12 weeks. Sectioned off some the coop today giving them a larger area being they have grown. Going to extend the area this weekend after they get use to having more room in the coop. Going to order another fan and expand their outdoor run area this weekend.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Gave the chicks more area in coop. Built a higher and longer roost. Have access to fresh water and feed. Moved and flipped brood box as they were growing to big to remain in it. additionally, going to build a ramp (that will be covered on all sides into so they can use it to exit and enter into run).

 

[Al Gerhart]

I see you make feeders. My hens are only 5 weeks and too small to use a feeder beside what I use know. Would rather buy locally or support s small business in the United States. I see you sell and make metal feeders. I want to get a metal feeder and debating if it should be inside the coop while they will be free ranging daily allowing them to forage. What do you recommend? They will not be free ranging until 10 -12 weeks. Sectioned off some the coop today giving them a larger area being they have grown. Going to extend the area this weekend after they get use to having more room in the coop. Going to order another fan and expand their outdoor run area this weekend.

Well, you don't need a feeder yet but you already know that. Besides, all treadle feeders are not safe around five week old chickens. When the time comes, I would put the feeder inside the coop, the hens will pop in if their foraging isn't going well that day. If you are starting out with hens only a few months old I would order the duck step with the feeder so they can reach the feed sooner. A ratproof feeder works using two principles, a difference in weight and a difference in reach between a rat and a chicken. We chose to go with the narrow and distant treadle for maximum rat proofing/squirrel proofing but with a duck step you can start out close in and move it a half inch further away each week until you no longer need the duck step.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Well, you don't need a feeder yet but you already know that. Besides, all treadle feeders are not safe around five week old chickens. When the time comes, I would put the feeder inside the coop, the hens will pop in if their foraging isn't going well that day. If you are starting out with hens only a few months old I would order the duck step with the feeder so they can reach the feed sooner. A ratproof feeder works using two principles, a difference in weight and a difference in reach between a rat and a chicken. We chose to go with the narrow and distant treadle for maximum rat proofing/squirrel proofing but with a duck step you can start out close in and move it a half inch further away each week until you no longer need the duck step.

Thanks for the information. In the future do you sell a set up as described? If you would, will you message m the price to ship it to Florida? Additionally, is there a video of it be used by chickens?

 

[Al Gerhart]

Not sure I understand what you are asking. If you are curious about treadle feeders I have a website and then there is a site called chickenfeederreviews or something close to that with info on the most common types of chicken feeders including treadle feeders. The info is a bit stale, haven't seen much new info in the past couple of years but then again there aren't any new treadle feeders on the market.