Show Me Your Feeders!!

[WalkingWolf1]

I have since modified my feeder "fonts" since I posted my original pictures and it is working much better.

This was the original design of the feeder opening. I thought I was doing the birds a favor by cutting away some of the PVC on the bottom thus allowing them closer access. What it allowed was their ability to throw more out on the ground.


Here is a shot with the modifications. I added a piece of PVC on the bottom that replaced the piece I cut away and also added a small dam in the front that has eliminated them pulling feed out. Since I modified the feeder I do not see any feed on the ground.




Here is how I cut my PVC inserts (the green line). I felt it gave the chickens the closest access. In reality, I over-worried about them not reaching the feed. Even after I made the modifications they still have plenty of room for access. I see several questions about how high (low) to put the openings. It's really not that critical. The feed will find its level. The thing to remember is the higher it is the more feed at the bottom. It simply needs to be high enough for more feed to replace what has been eaten. Mine are about 1" off the bottom.

 

[jimmywalt]

Seems to me a person is going too have to dump out the feed once in while just to keep things fresh in the bucket. The feed that is not near the elbow and can not be reached by the chicken will stay there and get old. Just a thought!!!

Scott

I've only had to refill my 5 gallon bucket feeder once since I made it and what I did was add about 1/4 bucket of food, put the lid on and shake it up to mix the old and new, then I filled the bucket the rest of the way. I'm happy enough with that idea.

 

[LoneOak]

The green line in your pic WalkinWolf is how I had to cut the street ell that I used. Its a little more difficult to get it at the right angle then if you cut it on the red line. I like your idea of adding a dam and if I do that to mine it will be just right and I won't have to make any other modifications.

 

[jimmywalt]

No dam needed if you extend the distance they have to stick their head in to get the food. I think mine is about 1" extension like this:

 

[har]

Jimmywalt that's a good idea about shaking the feed up. Thanks for that. When I read about people putting enough feed in a feeder for a month, well I just do not think that is a good idea. I like to keep the feed as fresh as possible but with some convenience. I am going to build one this weekend.

 

[laughingdog]

I use plastic co-op red and white/clear chick feeders and waterers, and/or all size gatorade containers cut to height and size. the gatorade containers oddly work the best and no spilled feed and can see anything in or when feed and water gets low. other containers cause of shapes varying and sizes jist don't work well for my varying sizes and ages of birds. gatorade containers also thicker sturdier and don't seem to cut birds. i just attach to side or corners of cage and/or up on and to something and works great for me that's not to good at building things with disabilities. feed never gets old and i like to go out twice a day at least as everyone should (when rarly not let to free range twenty for seven with GDs), and they are usually all around house or dogs. we have every pred here in east TN and all have been up after before got German shepherd (former stock killer rescue, as they seem best stock guards oddly once reconditioned I've noticed ), so ducks pigeons and chickens know were to go for protection when even people try to go for. the bears here smell feed, eggs, and especially poop, and chickens themselves, so so much feed left out for rodents and bugs alone, from humidity and dampness (not to mention eggs that hatch from feed itself, like exotic non flying red moths from cheap layer currently using,when feed exposed to open air), and bears could be serious trouble like what heard from some with all but best steel coops now, with so many uneaten pounds of feed left out open to air. About four to six weeks ago my neighbour left a bowl of cat food out overnight and i had to harshly call my rough collie off a bear he had cornered about twenty to thirty feet from their family house and small dogs out screeching in yard (he hates black bear since couple threatened three young daughters of friend). he didnt even bark to warn it, just flew at and attacked, so for the bears ect safety i keep feed inside and only feed in morn or very late at night (both dogs had another young bear treed on neighbors property couple weeks. ago, as the bear two weeks prior to that the shepherd stayed at property line and barked ect).

 

[Lockbox1111]

Thanks! I got it done and it working great. When I went to the store, the clerk there showed me a 90 degree elbow without the lip on one end. I still have to cut it off though and seems to be working fine. The girls stuck their heads in the hole and was eating it. I think this will be a keeper.

 

[jimmywalt]

Went out this morning to clean the coop................. Here are some better pics of my 5 gallon bucket feeder with the extension that prevents them from throwing the food out.

 

[Lockbox1111]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Looks like yours isn't angled as much as mine. You can see straight in and see the seeds. Mine isn't that easy to see, but the chickens can reach them.

 

[har]

I thought of a question. I have some big roosters with big combs. Are they going to reach in there even though they will hit there comb on the PVC and back out without eating.