Q on chicken feed

[lindseythefork]

Definitely get a feeder. They're pretty easy to DIY, I know a lot of people have made them out of regular household items. If you throw your feed on the ground it's going to get wasted, but what I think is worse is that it's going to attract some serious rodents.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

You can cut a hole in the side of a plastic milk jug big enough for them to get their head in to reach the feed. Feed on the ground also encourages bugs and rodents

 

[eudyptes]

I don't know exactly how you're set up, as you say you have them in separate enclosures, but a free-range poultry farm at which I have helped out uses lengths of 5" PVC pipe cut in half lengthwise, with chunks of 2x4 screwed to the bottom (rounded part) to keep them from turning over. YOu might be able to run one piece through all your enclosures. Cheap and effective, but it doesn't keep the feed dry, so don't feed more than they'll clean up in a reasonable amount of time...

 

[fancy]

Coyote, That's an excellent idea, I could use a hanging feeder and that sounds right up my alley.

I only have 1 hen and 2 eight week old chicks so I don't want anything BIG.

Thanks!

 

[WhetzelMomma]

I feed my chickens on the ground. I look at it like environment enhancement. They always have full crops at the end of the day, and they pick up EVERY LAST BIT. Nothing goes to waste. If there's food left the next day, I don't feed them until it's gone. My chickens free range as well, but my husband works nights, and I keep them penned on the days he's sleeping until he wakes up. Those days I feed them a bit more, and throwing the feed on the ground (I throw it all over so it's not in a pile) seems to make them happy. They don't squabble over anything, because everyone is spread out, and happy scratching. They LOVE scratching. They'll toss and turn it all over the yard until it's all gone! I don't have any rodent problems. The birds come down to snatch up bites when they can, but the chickens shoo them off if they are anywhere close! lol I understand why people LIKE feeders, but I also don't think they are an absolute necessity... especially in clean pens, with smaller flocks. Just wanted to share how I do it.

 

[palochknldy]

We only have 4 chickens and we have a small plastic 2 tray feeder(mineral feeder) mounted to the wall. Doesn't take up much space and we only put out what they can eat in a day so it doesn't spoil, especially when it's warm out. I read somewhere that a chicken eats between
4-6oz a day, less if free ranging.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...-feeders/mineral-feeder-2-x-1-3-4-qt--2221351

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
What a great idea! I might use this too!