Scratching in the feeder

[Haywire]

I have a 10lb hanging feeder and the chickens are constantly scratching in the tray and scattering the pellets all over the place. I don't have it hung, it's on a stand I built. Would it deter them from scattering the feed if I hung it so that it swung when they tried to scratch?

Ian

 

[Linn Bee]

The feeder should be set at chicken shoulder height. . . easy to access, hard to scratch. I have a few girls who will flick feed with their beaks from time to time, but the feeder stays clean and the feed stays put.

Love, Linn B (aka Smart Red) Gardening zone 5a - 4b in south-est, central-est Wisconsin

 

[JD4570]

I found keeping it at crop level makes it almost impossible to scratch in and they can still eat plenty. A little higher and they can still eat and you will cut out about 95% wastage .

 

[teach1rusl]

Yeah, the main thing hanging the feeder does is put it at a higher elevation. You can do that on blocks just as easily...as other have said, around shoulder level. That way they can still reach in, but can't do much else.

 

[aoxa]

I have a production red that scratches the ground UNDER the feeder when I hang it

Chickens will be chickens. They will flick the feed if you hang it, so either way you have a mess.. I find mine will clean up whatever they spill though.

 

[Haywire]

Mine will clean up nicely if I forget to fill the feeder...

I'm hanging it tomorrow.
Ian