PVC pipe feeder question

[aart]

At least one poster has had a roo starve to death, or come very close to that when using a PVC feeder.

ETA: Is it the sharp edges that causes the problem? Or is it more a matter of simple repetitive moving contact with the edges as they fit their heads down inside?

I think the instance @lazy gardener is referring to is that the bird could not get it's head (with large comb) into the opening to get feed. It was one of the type like RonP shows above.

 

[henless]

My Cream Legbar roosters didn't like the 3" pvc openings. I guess they didn't like the feel of their comb/wattles hitting the pipe. I made a new feeder with 4" openings, and they ate out of it just fine.

Keep an eye out and make sure your large comb roosters are actually eating out of the pipes.

 

[TexasSam]

I have little to offer on your design.
These on the other hand, seem to work flawlessly.

View attachment 1204097

This one works the best. I have tried all three styles mentioned but this one is the best way.
Also instead of a 90• try two 45's
The feed flows better that way

 

[aart]

I have little to offer on your design.
These on the other hand, seem to work flawlessly.

View attachment 1204097

@RonP What is the pipe size and angle of fittings?

 

[RonP]

@RonP What is the pipe size and angle of fittings?

I used 3" PVC pipe throughout. I do not have any "large" heads, but do have larger sized buffs that never had any issues with the 3" Y-tee fitting.


After the original picture was taken I added a 2" extension on each feeder. This completly eliminated all waste.

 

[Ohmyheart]

I made two of these the 3 inch PVC's and love them. I actually just put some gorilla tape about a 1/4 up the bottom opening so they can't dump out the crumbles. I just covered the sticky part across the opening so the tape didn't catch any tap or wattles.

sort of like this picture

 

[AASister]

I really appreciate all the comments! Thanks, everybody!

 

[EverythingZen]

I have little to offer on your design.
These on the other hand, seem to work flawlessly.

View attachment 1204097

What angle does the elbow bend at on yours?
I thought the 90 degree angle would cause the feed to fall out, so I put a 45 degree elbow on mine. I don't have chickens yet, but I hope to have everything set up first, obviously. A friend told me the 90 is easier for the chicken to reach in and eat, but I've got a 90mm diameter pipe, so it's going to have gravity work perhaps too well with the feed. I'll get the 90 as welland play around when I finally get the chooks.

 

[EverythingZen]

Ignore my other post! I didn't realise at first there was another page with more replies lol
I'm glad the 45 works! I'll keep at this design for the next tubes I build.

I used 3" PVC pipe throughout. I do not have any "large" heads, but do have larger sized buffs that never had any issues with the 3" Y-tee fitting.

View attachment 1211035 View attachment 1211042
After the original picture was taken I added a 2" extension on each feeder. This completly eliminated all waste.

 

[jreardon1918]

No mess. It is a 3" PVC tube. I saw a youtube Video of somebody building one. They used a 4" tube. All I had was 3". The bottom is notched to allow feed out. Two bolts hold it together. The bottom is a 6" end cap. I had to special order that from Home depot. The chickens have to dig down to eat. No mess. 5 of the pullets can dig in at one time. I use pellets.

An update on this feeder. We have had a day of heavy rain. The feeder is in the run. And the run roof leaks. The water started collecting in the bottom. That turned the pellets to mush and it stopped filling. Had to clean it out and move it away from the leak. The moral of this story... this type feeder needs to stay dry.