something is eating my feed :(

[1 lucky dad]

Filled the feeder last night and its half empty already! Only 4 spoiled birds that get plenty of treats can't possibly be eating all that. Wonder if I am gonna have to take the feeder out at night. Living in the country is great except them darn mice! Any good remedies to keep the critters out?

 

[Ema]

they could be spilling the feed, depending on the feeder you have they might be able to scratch out the feed and scatter it on the ground. Mine were doing that until I changed their feeder. and put it up a bit higher.

but if you happen to have mice or other small rodents around, from experience I will tell you your chickens will go after them, unless you have a big big rodent problem, there is no possible way a few mice could have eaten so much feed over night. My guess they are spilling it.

I used hardware cloth over one of my feeders so that they can only stick their beaks in to eat

Good luck,

Ema

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

something is eating my feed

Filled the feeder last night and its half empty already!

So how much feed is that?​

 

[Ema]

Quote:
So how much feed is that?

ohh good question, I didn't think of ask that!!

 

[1 lucky dad]

7 pound feeder hanging about 1 foot above ground. And yes they are spilling some on the ground, but it looks like they are eating it off the ground also.

 

[Slotred]

Rats, maybe? Mice?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Try a bucket trap. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of water, then cover the surface of the water with sunflower seeds (so the bucket looks like its full of seed). Provide an access ramp. They jump in and can't get back out. Take it away in the morning so the chickens can't get to it. Good luck!

 

[1 lucky dad]

That sounds like a good idea, I will try it for sure. Thanks

 

[itom37]

You'd be able to see all that food spread on the coop floor if it was spilled by the birds. Can you?

Unless your coop is Fort Knox tight, you do have rodents. I've opened my coop at night and seen one lazily chewing down. The chickens will not chase them off at night... they're sleepy. I have these boxes that hold poison that pets, children, and chickens can't get to, and two are in the coop. Another couple next to where I store my feed. I recommend it to prevent infestation and wasted feed, but do be sure you understand the risks of poison.

 

[1 lucky dad]

It's in a circle directly under the feeder it's not all over the coop. I am also noticing that since food consuption has gone up, so has egg production. I think I will start by removing the food at night.