Still making a mess with port feeders

[EmmaDonovan]

I switched to port feeders and pellets to try to cut down on waste but a lot of pellets still end up on the ground. Is there any other way to prevent this? It wastes food and attracts critters.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I switched to port feeders and pellets to try to cut down on waste but a lot of pellets still end up on the ground. Is there any other way to prevent this? It wastes food and attracts critters.

I've tried port feeders and had the same issue.

I've tried various types of feed stations, setups and finally (I think!) have found what works best for me, or it has worked for several months now.

A feeder in a pan set up on a stand. The base of these smaller feeders fit inside of a larger "feed pan". My birds do "bill" the feed but almost all of it falls into the larger metal pan the feeder sits in. Being on a stand at about chest high, the feed stays relatively clean.

I take up the whole thing each night (I have 3 feeders set up like this) and put them in a metal trash so as not to attract critters. In the morning if the metal pan has feed in it, I just pour it back into the feeder.
This set up does take a few extra minutes each day taking up and putting out feeders, but it has definitely been worth it.

I have the round metal stands and one plastic adjustable one, but I can't find it for purchase anymore or I'd give you better photos, it's under the feeder in the photo.

 

[thecatumbrella]

The only feeder I’ve ever had success with (and my last flock was relentless with beaking) is the Premier 1 tower feeders hung at shoulder height.

I’m curious to see what others have to suggest, though!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I've tried port feeders and had the same issue.

I've tired various types of feed stations, setups and finally (I think!) have found what works best for me, or it has worked for several months now.

A feeder in a pan set up on a stand. The base of these smaller feeders fit inside of a larger "feed pan". My birds do "bill" the feed but almost all of it falls into the larger metal pan the feeder sits in. Being on a stand at about chest high, the feed stays relatively clean.

I take up the whole thing each night (I have 3 feeders set up like this) and put them in a metal trash so as not to attract critters. In the morning if the metal pan has feed in it, I just pour it back into the feeder.
This set up does take a few extra minutes each day taking up and putting out feeders, but it has definitely been worth it.

I have the round metal stands and one plastic adjustable one, but I can't find it for purchase anymore or I'd give you better photos, it's under the feeder in the photo.



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Oh I love this! You’re basically making a deeper lip. I feel like if I combined this with my Premier 1 feeders (which already have a curved well), it would be bulletproof!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh I love this! You’re basically making a deeper lip. I feel like if I combined this with my Premier 1 feeders (which already have a curved well), it would be bulletproof!

That's an idea!

 

[ella2025]

I use port feeders and have it raised to shoulder height. They still spill it out. My ports have these little plug/caps so I cut those into a half moon shape and put them on the ports and that made the feed spill significantly less. But there's just conveniently enough near the ground for my tiny 6 week old silkie girl to eat. Win win for me!

 

[Sefirothe]

My old original girls never made a feed mess. But I have 13 new pullets added to the mix and someone(s) being naughty with the feeders. It may be that I was mixing the last of the chick crumbles with the adult pellets to use it up maybe.

I have buckets with ports hung from the roof of the run at chicken shoulder height.

I basically don’t refill the feeders until the mess on the ground is cleaned up.

 

[Al Gerhart]

The pan under the feeder will work great and is done cheaply. At some point, either wild birds or rodents will begin colonizing and at that point you will need to upgrade to a treadle feeder. They are not needed until you hit that point.

Always monitor your feed use, one quarter pound of pellets/crumble per hen per day, ignore roosters unless you have a lot of them. Eight hens, two pounds per day, 25 days per bag of feed. Twelve hens, 3 pounds per day, 16 days per bag. Sixteen days, four pounds per day, 12 days per bag.

Under eight hens.....what the hell is wrong with you? Are you immune to chicken math?

If you see you are losing feed either to waste or theft, start calculating the payback on a good feeder. Your rats will double every 45 days so check frequently as the "feeder math" changes quickly.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The port-feeder I made for myself several years ago using PVC elbows worked GREAT, truly no mess. But the ones I've made using the kits from the feed store ... meh, kinda worthless for feeding crumbles. They're just too shallow, the inside part that goes into the buckets. It's as if there is nothing there at all, you may as well have an open hole for the chickens to pull the crumbles straight out of. They work a bit better for pellets. I need to make some more using the PVC elbows, but those were considerably heavier than the kit ones.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

The port-feeder I made for myself several years ago using PVC elbows worked GREAT, truly no mess. But the ones I've made using the kits from the feed store ... meh, kinda worthless for feeding crumbles. They're just too shallow, the inside part that goes into the buckets. It's as if there is nothing there at all, you may as well have an open hole for the chickens to pull the crumbles straight out of. They work a bit better for pellets. I need to make some more using the PVC elbows, but those were considerably heavier than the kit ones.

53,
Please past picture of your feeder.