Preventing birds from perching and pooping on top of 5 gallon feeder/waterer

[NicholeT]

For those of you who feed and water with 5 gallon buckets, Do you use anything on top to prevent them from pooping on the lids? I hate having to try to open the lids to access clean food and water with poo all over them. I've tried a few things (cardboard taped on- they ate the tape) another lid slightly fastened- they knock them off. I've considered funnels or a traffic cone but before I buy anything else I thought I would see what ya'll do.

 

[Know it All]

Funnels work. I've used them before. Silly hens for eating the tape! It's like they look for ways to frustrate their hoomans. Chickens can be so naughty

 

[CaretakerCarol]

I have used these with success to prevent roosting

https://www.amazon.com/BORHOOD-Deterrent-Squirrel-Raccoon-Defender/dp/B0C2PB6FVV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2G1I2N5WWL4GH&keywords=bird+deterrents+for+outside&qid=1686113561&sprefix=,aps,169&sr=8-10

 

[Al Gerhart]

Should be simple enough to buy a 10' roll of light gauge roof flashing and make a cone using a couple of screws. Or some heavy gauge non corrugated cardboard to form a cone then get some newspaper or junk mail and some flour and water and paper mache that puppy so it is stiff enough to work.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I use a large funnel. The birds are so used to it that they no longer try to get on top of the waterer.

 

[mossyoakpro]

I was thinking about coating my lids with STP or Slick 50 or similar. I want them to slide off every time they get on top. For the feeders that are open top i put a gallon can down in the feeder so they can't get in to eat from the inside. A cone shaped object is the only way I have thought of that would work. Anything else just becomes another roost.

My feeder is an open top and one crazy chicken figured out that she could fly INSIDE the feeder and have a picnic....I had to take one of those squirrel cones and run the chain through it and cover the top.

 

[3KillerBs]

What does your setup look like?

I don't have a lot of trouble with this -- at least not with adults.

 

[blackdog043]

I place a big, 10 inch I think, orange funnel on top, I also use gamma lids, easy screw on and off.

 

[blackdog043]

my dumb self just uses totes and cleans the water every day. i need to switch to these waterer

They are easy to make and all you have to do is add water. clean water all the time. I rinse mine out a couple times a year. Here is my article link, if your interested in making one. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

 

[LTAY1946]

I was thinking about coating my lids with STP or Slick 50 or similar. I want them to slide off every time they get on top. For the feeders that are open top i put a gallon can down in the feeder so they can't get in to eat from the inside. A cone shaped object is the only way I have thought of that would work. Anything else just becomes another roost.