Question about bantam weight on treadle feeders…

[Bantam bell Wood]

Question about bantam weight on treadle feeders and others that have similar mechanisms…

Do they work for these small birds?

 

[thecatumbrella]

You can add a weight to the pedal to make up the difference. Some models might also have adjustable tension. Word of warning though: once in a while, I see treadle feeder injuries, particularly with models that close overhead. I imagine this risk goes up a bit more with bantams.

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

You can add a weight to the pedal to make up the difference. Some models might also have adjustable tension. Word of warning though: once in a while, I see treadle feeder injuries, particularly with models that close overhead. I imagine this risk goes up a bit more with bantams.

Thanks for the information and advice. I’ve read about automatic feeders, like “Chicken Run” feeders. I think I’ll just try that first. Considering my flock is a small one in number. It’s likely I have five pullets, all Bantams, I can’t afford to lose one.

Thank you, again!

 

[thecatumbrella]

Thanks for the information and advice. I’ve read about automatic feeders, like “Chicken Run” feeders. I think I’ll just try that first. Considering my flock is a small one in number. It’s likely I have five pullets, all Bantams, I can’t afford to lose one.

Thank you, again!

What problem(s) are you trying to solve with the treadle? Rodents? Food waste?

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

What problem(s) are you trying to solve with the treadle? Rodents? Food waste?

My chicks just started living outdoors two weeks ago. They are still on their chick feeder and I’m ready to figure out the way to feed them long term.

My uncle kept chickens, and I’ve taken care of folk’s chickens back yard and small (75 birds) scale meat bird operations (that included pigs and sheep and collecting the family eggs) when they’ve gone away. I’ve also spent some time with friends on larger scale farms and have had a few friends who proudly work on farms. These are my first birds. I plan to build my flock out to my town’s enforcement office’s limits of 10 birds.

I work long hours and occasionally extra long hours. I’m in the market for an automatic door with a timer for the days/nights when I don’t get home from work until after dark when the bird’s coop should be shut. The one I’m looking at has a timer. My little girls (and boys) already know how to tell time really well and go to bed easily, so I feel confident a timer will work. I can put any stragglers in when I get home if that’s ever a problem.

I’m thinking, an automatic feeder because I read about it on the same site I saw the door. I like the idea, especially one that holds a fair amount of feed (less fill-ups). Some of the books I’ve read recommend the treadle feeders because it helps keep the feed dry too, which helps to avoid mold.

I want to forgo any problems I might face regarding rodents, as they haven’t found my birds yet. And I want to avoid any wasting of feed anytime that’s possible.

Do you have an opinion about automatic feeders?

Thanks.

 

[thecatumbrella]

My chicks just started living outdoors two weeks ago. They are still on their chick feeder and I’m ready to figure out the way to feed them long term.

My uncle kept chickens, and I’ve taken care of folk’s chickens back yard and small (75 birds) scale meat bird operations (that included pigs and sheep and collecting the family eggs) when they’ve gone away. I’ve also spent some time with friends on larger scale farms and have had a few friends who proudly work on farms. These are my first birds. I plan to build my flock out to my town’s enforcement office’s limits of 10 birds.

I work long hours and occasionally extra long hours. I’m in the market for an automatic door with a timer for the days/nights when I don’t get home from work until after dark when the bird’s coop should be shut. The one I’m looking at has a timer. My little girls (and boys) already know how to tell time really well and go to bed easily, so I feel confident a timer will work. I can put any stragglers in when I get home if that’s ever a problem.

I’m thinking, an automatic feeder because I read about it on the same site I saw the door. I like the idea, especially one that holds a fair amount of feed (less fill-ups). Some of the books I’ve read recommend the treadle feeders because it helps keep the feed dry too, which helps to avoid mold.

I want to forgo any problems I might face regarding rodents, as they haven’t found my birds yet. And I want to avoid any wasting of feed anytime that’s possible.

Do you have an opinion about automatic feeders?

Thanks.

I use hanging feeders. I managed to find a model that they can't beak the food out of, and it can hold up to 35 lbs. You'd obviously need a solid roof to do so, and it would have to be weather protected. So far, the mice have left it alone through two years (knock on wood), maybe because they'd have to jump to access it?

As for something to put outside, the Coopworx Feed Silo is probably the Cadillac of feeders, but it's big bucks. Has a whopping 80lb capacity though.

One thing to keep in mind with putting large amounts of food outside is that humidity can work its way into the feed and ruin it. Doesn't even have to get wet! So it's a trade off between more frequent refills with guaranteed fresh food, or managing humidity in larger batches.

I'm sure someone else has some better suggestions, so poke around the site a bit!

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

I use hanging feeders. I managed to find a model that they can't beak the food out of, and it can hold up to 35 lbs. You'd obviously need a solid roof to do so, and it would have to be weather protected. So far, the mice have left it alone through two years (knock on wood), maybe because they'd have to jump to access it?

As for something to put outside, the Coopworx Feed Silo is probably the Cadillac of feeders, but it's big bucks. Has a whopping 80lb capacity though.

One thing to keep in mind with putting large amounts of food outside is that humidity can work its way into the feed and ruin it. Doesn't even have to get wet! So it's a trade off between more frequent refills with guaranteed fresh food, or managing humidity in larger batches.

I'm sure someone else has some better suggestions, so poke around the site a bit!

Thank you for the info!

The Bantams don’t eat enough to warrant an 80# feeder, so there’s that, but I’m curious which model hanging feeder you use?

I like the idea of them not being able to beak too much out.

Hopefully, the yard cat (not mine, belongs to the neighbor- I don’t feed him but he’s still adopted me and my yard as his hunting grounds) will continue to keep the rodent population in check.

And thanks for the reminder about moisture seeping into the feeder!

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

I use hanging feeders. I managed to find a model that they can't beak the food out of, and it can hold up to 35 lbs. You'd obviously need a solid roof to do so, and it would have to be weather protected. So far, the mice have left it alone through two years (knock on wood), maybe because they'd have to jump to access it?

As for something to put outside, the Coopworx Feed Silo is probably the Cadillac of feeders, but it's big bucks. Has a whopping 80lb capacity though.

One thing to keep in mind with putting large amounts of food outside is that humidity can work its way into the feed and ruin it. Doesn't even have to get wet! So it's a trade off between more frequent refills with guaranteed fresh food, or managing humidity in larger batches.

I'm sure someone else has some better suggestions, so poke around the site a bit!

I will keep scratching around for more ideas too! Thank you.