PVC Feeder experts - please help?

[ll]

I made a pvc feeder - it's been sitting in the garage empty.

I emptied it because the food got moldy on the bottom, the top area of pellets looked okay but I threw them all out.
It is hanging in a dry coop - and it has aeration holes drilled into the bottom.
Was it just a freak thing from the moist air of the hurricane weather?
Do I need to caulk the seams?
Any ideas?
Edit: it doesn't look like it, but it hangs approximately 6in. from the ground level.

 

[Tofer76]

i would think that any and all moisture from the feed and air would pool in the bottom of it and rot feed. i would change the bottom to a tee with about a foot on each side capped off either make them a trough or cut 2 inch holes in it so they cant bill out food

 

[colebarnhart]

You can fill the bottow with concrete or if not that then sand with some small drain holes on the bottom, like a plant bottom. I primed and glued all mine.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I made a couple of those exact feeders. One hangs in an open air coop with covered top and I have never had any moisture problems. I blame the hurricane. Try it again. Maybe even incorporate some Diatomaceous Earth into the feed.

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

Quote:
I agree, I added sand in mine but also had a cap glued to the bottom.

 

[ll]

Thank you for your replies!

So I'm looking at my posted photo & will elaborate. I did have a thick layer of stone/gravel in the bottom over the drilled holes so feed wouldn't collect in the bottom and "go stale". I would say the stone layer filled up to the "seam" at the joint of the Y where that label is. I don't see how caulking it would make a difference when it hangs indoors?

Maybe some aeration holes on the sides? The pellets seemed discolored about 5" up and then were okay the rest of the way. I also have DE mixed in ... so I'm going to have to blame the excess moisture on the blowing hurricane

So I'm going to try again then

Maybe I shouldn't fill it up so much? Can anyone gauge the fill rate of this for 2 pullets?

I wish these pipes were clear so I could see how much remains at a glance.

 

[zzGypsy]

so how do you fill one of those? I'd be spilling feed all over the coop...

 

[ll]

Oh super easy to fill - the top pops off (not threaded) and I have a little funnel with a very wide fill end - just fits at the top of the pvc tube.
I scoop from my feed bin and reach the scoop in towards the funnel right from the dutch door, without even stepping in.

 

[zzGypsy]

cool, maybe I'll make one of these this weekend.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I have one of those for 4 chickens (1 roo, 3 hens) and I only fill it 1/2 full or so cause I don't want it to sit too long and get stale. I don't put any rocks in the bottom and there are no air holes in mine. I also let the chickens eat all the feed before adding more. I love the design, no waste.