Stubborn Labrador Retriever & chicken food!!!!

[humphrey farms]

The dog has been scolded for foraging free hand spread grain. Doesn't stop her. She tips over the metal containers and eats the spill on the ground. ( Darn dog! We do feed her!) Our chickens just have a coop w/free access to an acre fenced in for our dogs which is allowed to grow naturally. Old farm land with very rich soil. Everything is A-OK except the food thing. I hate shutting the coop doors especially now as the weather is getting foul here in Maine. I leave grain in a metal bowl in the coop as well as water. QUESTION: Can chickens feed from a tube shape bird feeder???? The long plastic type that you hang?? Thank for any input! Labs are like chickens! They have stainless steel stomachs and eat anything and EVERYTHING!!

 

[cgmccary]

I solved this problem by mixing cayenne pepper in with my feed. I put a tablespoon per two cups of feed. I buy the cayenne at the farmer's market, rather cheap, in 5 lb bags. The chickens and geese can't taste it but it deters the dogs, not to mention it might have some deworming effect.

 

[humphrey farms]

I solved this problem by mixing cayenne pepper in with my feed. I put a tablespoon per two cups of feed. I buy the cayenne at the farmer's market, rather cheap, in 5 lb bags. The chickens and geese can't taste it but it deters the dogs, not to mention it might have some deworming effect.

I will have to try this remedy. Thanks. What about the tube like bird feeder? Any thoughts?

 

[Mehjr10]

I used a gravity style deer feeder for my scratch in the yard. You and see it in my avatar. you can also get them with a timer to drop food on schedules. Or bird feeder will also work.. My feeder for layer is a 5 gallon bucket with 4 holes drilled in the bottom with a 3 gallon metal pan attached to the bottom.

 

[humphrey farms]

I used a gravity style deer feeder for my scratch in the yard. You and see it in my avatar. you can also get them with a timer to drop food on schedules. Or bird feeder will also work.. My feeder for layer is a 5 gallon bucket with 4 holes drilled in the bottom with a 3 gallon metal pan attached to the bottom.

I like the gravity style deer feeder. I am going to mention it to my son.

 

[Mehjr10]

You will have to take a piece of plastic to make the hole smaller, or the scratch grains will just pour out.. I made mine just a bit larger than the rod diameter. Oh and my labs like the recycled chicken food. Nasty.

 

[humphrey farms]

You will have to take a piece of plastic to make the hole smaller, or the scratch grains will just pour out.. I made mine just a bit larger than the rod diameter. Oh and my labs like the recycled chicken food. Nasty.

Aren't they awful! those Labs!