Rat Proof Chicken Feeder

[meadrian]

The large breeds could definately use it. I don't know about the little ones. Al can anser that.

How cool to have them small enough to sit in your hand!

 

[PtldChick]

Al,

What about making a larger/wider one - for bigger flocks? So five or six could eat at the same time?

I also have the same questions about bantams...I guess one way would be to add a weight to the treadle until my bantams could open in with their weight.

Thanks.

 

[meadrian]

He did make a bigger one. It's the original. Then scaled it down for those of us with few hens. Check the pictures on the thread. Some show the larger one. Also, there's a youtube video showing hens using the larger one. Somewhere in this thread are the dimensions, too.

Portland, Oregon! I'm originally from there. My family is still there. Nice place!

 

[@FendiChick]

Will it work with bantams? I would definitely buy one if so!

 

[meadrian]

I don't know. When Al logs in he'd be able to tell you.

 

[@FendiChick]

Oh great- thanks. I'll check back later.

 

[BackyardBantams]

Awesome!

 

[Al Gerhart]

Hi All,

Been a busy couple of weeks, finishing up a countertop job last week, then I got snagged for jury duty this week so I've been late in checking on this thread.

There is no reason a large feeder couldn't be made, increase the width for five or six hens. I'd guess you would need a 24" to 30" wide feeder.

The counterweight can be adjusted by pulling four phillips head screws and bringing it toward the front to make the treadle more sensitive. Bantams, they should weigh between one and two pounds so a feeder can be adjusted, but it will be less "rat" resistant but certainly it will be "mouse" proof.


My coop is overrun with large rats and mice, I mean a dozen or two at least that are six to eight inches long. They have learned to cooperate to operate the treadle! I snuck up on the coop the other day, had the door already unlatched so I could yank it open quickly. Saw three large rats sitting on the treadle that couldn't reach the feed and a half dozen chowing down. Unbelievable how smart they are to cooperate like that.

So, a treadle feeder is going to work if you have the rat population thinned down or at least the larger ones killed off. I don't think a dozen mice could operate the treadle, maybe even two dozen mice might not weigh enough. Mice appear to run between 20 and 35 ounces each or 12 to 22 mice per pound.

Rats on the other hand weight between a half pound a pound to a pound or more depending on the sex of the rat. Two adult male rats are going to be able to open the feeder unless you have it set for about 3 pounds. An adult chicken can easily do that, maybe up to 4 to 5 pounds if needed.

I think that the real value of a treadle feeder is to keep the small rats from ever growing big enough or numerous enough to operate the treadle. We had some small rats under the storage buildings long before I got the chickens but they were small ones, probably couldn't get enough food to grow up to the one pound size. I am planning on trapping some of the rascals this weekend, caging them, then using them to test feeder designs. I can push the treadle back another two to three inches to keep several large rats from operating the treadle and being able to reach the food at the same time. That will mean heavier counterweights to overcome the added leverage of the treadle but it is possible. The other thing I can try once I have some captive rats is making the treadle much lower, make the hens reach up to get their food, increasing the distance between treadle and food even more.

The ad on BYC is supposed to be starting soon and I have a web page set up on my cabinet website: http://thecarpentershop.net/mediumplywoodchickenfeeder.html

This is going to be a process learning how to make the perfect feeder but one well worth doing if we want backyard chickens to be accepted in more cities.

 

[meadrian]

Excellent! Let me know as soon as I can order the smaller version. I want two!!

I read your website and it looks great. I have one question. Will the "weather protector"...I don't know what to call it....that goes over the feeder be available as well for the smaller version?

As far as rats, I've only seen two where I live and they look to be about 4-5 inches long. I don't think they even weigh a lb. each. And since we don't have a colony running around, this seems like it would be perfect to prevent any. (At least I haven't seen signs like rat poop around.)

Thanks!

 

[ChickenAl]

Great design on this feeder. Looks like you have a winner there.