Question on the bucket feed system (DIY)

[Happy Novogens]

Decided to make the bucket feeding system/ Revolutionary for my future (3) hens. We put it together today and am wondering if the reach down is correct. We had to tweak it a couple times. Does this look correct?

 

[kcult]

Would that be for quail or chickens?

I assume chickens, based on the measurement, but your username has me wondering if it might be for quail.

 

[Bestofsmall]

I'm not sure how well that will work. I would turn them around with the bent side outside like a cup. Here's a pic of mine I ordered from TSC for $30.00 got 3 cups was easy to install & came with blade to cut hole. Even baby chicks can eat out of it. I used box from Walmart is med size hold 50 lbs. +

 

[TooCheep]

I'm not sure how well that will work. I would turn them around with the bent side outside like a cup. Here's a pic of mine I ordered from TSC for $30.00 got 3 cups was easy to install & came with blade to cut hole. Even baby chicks can eat out of it. I used box from Walmart is med size hold 50 lbs. +

It will work very well. In fact, the curve down to feed is designed to minimize chickens natural habit of flicking around food and wasting a lot of feed. It is designed for adult chickens only.

 

[TooCheep]

Decided to make the bucket feeding system/ Revolutionary for my future (3) hens. We put it together today and am wondering if the reach down is correct. We had to tweak it a couple times. Does this look correct?

The general setup looks good. I would personally cut about half (but not all) of the expanded section at the bottom of the elbow. Having to reach in prevents the vast majority of feed waste. The length of the pipe pointing down makes it harder for the feed to spill into the spot where the chickens want to feed.

The only other possible modification: If those feeding holes are in a location that may have rain go into them, then I would add a shield over the top of the pipe.

 

[Bestofsmall]

Cool I hope you put pics when done. So they stick their heads completely inside to eat?

It will work very well. In fact, the curve down to feed is designed to minimize chickens natural habit of flicking around food and wasting a lot of feed. It is designed for adult chickens only.

 

[TooCheep]

Cool I hope you put pics when done. So they stick their heads completely inside to eat?

Exactly. Here is a very good video showing the construction procedure (slightly different from mine), but perfectly fine. You can see the chickens feeding in the last minute.

 

[Happy Novogens]

Would that be for quail or chickens?

I assume chickens, based on the measurement, but your username has me wondering if it might be for quail.

Yes, for chickens! (My user name was created when I had some (indoor) button quail but I'm preparing for chickens now.)

The general setup looks good. I would personally cut about half (but not all) of the expanded section at the bottom of the elbow. Having to reach in prevents the vast majority of feed waste. The length of the pipe pointing down makes it harder for the feed to spill into the spot where the chickens want to feed.

The only other possible modification: If those feeding holes are in a location that may have rain go into them, then I would add a shield over the top of the pipe.

Thank you. The expanded section inside the tub is what was giving us pause. We were wondering whether it was too long of a reach but weren't sure about whether we needed to cut it off. Removing half of it makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion!

The feed area is covered but a shield would probably be a good idea as well. We get very little rain (7"/year) but the shield would help when the wind is driving the rain.

 

[TooCheep]

@Gimpy Quail - Take a look at the video I posted above. If you reverse your feed pipes, that might be all you need.

 

[Happy Novogens]

I'm not sure how well that will work. I would turn them around with the bent side outside like a cup. Here's a pic of mine I ordered from TSC for $30.00 got 3 cups was easy to install & came with blade to cut hole. Even baby chicks can eat out of it. I used box from Walmart is med size hold 50 lbs. +

Another advantage of this system I've been reading about is that it keeps mice & rats out as well. Another member posted this awhile ago. It won me over to this system:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-revolutionary-chicken.1530465/#post-25800381