Scattered feed

[Colormeblue]

I have six 9 mo old hens that keep scattering the feed. My wife used to mix a little scratch with it, but quit a few weeks ago. I serve them 17% protein mini pellets. What should I try?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are they eating the feed reliably? From the looks of it you could try raising the feeder a tad bit higher and/or put something under it to stabilize it (in case the swinging is contributing to the spillage), otherwise... I take my feeder away at night and the girls reliably clean up any spillage the next morning.

 

[Colormeblue]

Are they eating the feed reliably? From the looks of it you could try raising the feeder a tad bit higher and/or put something under it to stabilize (it in case the swinging is contributing to the spillage), otherwise... I take my feeder away at night and the girls reliably clean up any spillage the next morning.

Thanks for the recommendations

 

[Mtnboomer]

Also some hens get picky and go for the piece of food that looks the best, is the right size, color, shape, whatever that catches their eye. Removing the feed until the rest has been cleaned will prevent/minimize waste.

 

[kerbotx]

Add some split flex tubing around the rim, big improvement for me:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-1-in-x-5-ft-Split-Flex-Tubing-FLX-1007GRT/202905450

* oh, and don't mix anything into the feed - they'll just pick out the tasty bits first & discard anything that gets in the way!

 

[Colormeblue]

Add some split flex tubing around the rim, big improvement for me:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-1-in-x-5-ft-Split-Flex-Tubing-FLX-1007GRT/202905450

* oh, and don't mix anything into the feed - they'll just pick out the tasty bits first & discard anything that gets in the way!

I have something similar in mind that might work - thanks

 

[neo71665]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...lon-25-feed-bucket-feeder-for-about-3.834227/

I have 2 of these and no wasted feed. One with two 3 inch openings for the hens and one with a 4 inch opening for the roosters comb. They all eat out of his but he doesn't like sticking his head in the smaller openings.