Stupid question about brooder feeder!

[rnchick74]

I'm about to place my 1st order for baby chicks - they will be hatched July 14 & delivered that week! EEP!

During this long, excruciating wait, I'm making my brooder & getting all my supplies together, as well as working on my coop.

My stupid question is this: is there a major difference/preference between a feeder for the brooder. My options are plastic and metal. If there is a reason to get 1 over the other, that makes it easy. If there is no reason, other than personal preference, then I know my almost 6 yo son will want to get plastic in his favorite color...which is a respectable reason since they are both the same price.

But I figure I should ask the wisdom is the BYC community before I let the 6 yo decide

So, please participate in the poll &/or leave a comment. Thank you!! And I apologize ahead of time for the million other stupid, and not so stupid questions I ask over the next few months!

 

[MySweetChickens]

i would go with plastic but red is the best color since chickens see that color the best it will show them where the food is better

 

[Mister B]

I bought what was cheapest at the supply store. At that time it was a galvanized metal one with the top that slides. They will eat and clean that thing out in a day. In reality, I don't think it matters much. Get what you think is best.

 

[Ridgerunner]

People care about this type of stuff a whole lot more than chickens do. People that like plastic will tell you why they like plastic. People that like metal will tell you why they like metal. They are all valid reasons. This doesn't even get into the different kinds of plastic feeders or different kinds of metal feeders, let alone all the homemade ones. Make your son happy!

Never be afraid to ask any question. That's what keeps this forum going. Plus you'll feel pretty stupid if you fail to ask a question and get into trouble because of that. Don't worry, we all had to start somewhere.

 

[Blooie]

If my experience means anything, it's that chicks will eat out of tobacco can if it's clean and they know there's food in there! LOL I let my granddaughter chose our feeder when we first got our chicks..she chose "silver", which was actually the metal feeder. But I do agree with Mister B - the long metal ones with the sliding tops are virtually useless for keeping the food clean and keeping it full. The chicks walk over the top of it despite having a little barrier on it, and where they walk, they poop!

The only time I would avoid metal and go with plastic is in the waterer. There may come a time when you want to add Apple Cider Vinegar to their water (some people do, some don't) and you really want plastic for that, not metal. I switched over to poultry nipples and have never looked back, but then again that's personal preference.

Enjoy your adventure! You sound a lot smarter than I was - our chicks were over 5 weeks old before our coop was even close to ready for them, and even after that we ended up doing some work on it while they were in residence. <sigh>

 

[Ridgerunner]

If my experience means anything, it's that chicks will eat out of tobacco can if it's clean and they know there's food in there! LOL I let my granddaughter chose our feeder when we first got our chicks..she chose "silver", which was actually the metal feeder. But I do agree with Mister B - the long metal ones with the sliding tops are virtually useless for keeping the food clean and keeping it full. The chicks walk over the top of it despite having a little barrier on it, and where they walk, they poop! The only time I would avoid metal and go with plastic is in the waterer. There may come a time when you want to add Apple Cider Vinegar to their water (some people do, some don't) and you really want plastic for that, not metal. I switched over to poultry nipples and have never looked back, but then again that's personal preference. Enjoy your adventure! You sound a lot smarter than I was - our chicks were over 5 weeks old before our coop was even close to ready for them, and even after that we ended up doing some work on it while they were in residence.

If I may ask, how did you train yours to only eat out of clean feeders? That's a trick worth knowing!!!

 

[Blooie]

If I may ask, how did you train yours to only eat out of clean feeders? That's a trick worth knowing!!!

Ouch! I had that coming!

I just meant free of tobacco remnants. THEY wouldn't care if the tobacco can was clean, but I would if I lost a chick or two to nicotine poisoning. I need to learn to phrase things better. LOL

 

[rnchick74]

Thanks for all the feedback so far! I'm very luck to have hand raised parrots in the past, as well as have several friends who currently raise backyard chickens. They are the ones who have sold me on the idea.

As far as watering goes - I'm starting out with a nipple system I learned with parrots that they make soupy messes!!! And ACV was proved to me with my 1st parrot with sour crop. I've seen multiple birds on the brink of death, make a miraculous comeback with only the additions of probiotics and ACV.

So, it sounds like it truly doesn't matter too much, but red is preferable slightly. I'm definitely trying to get my son as engaged in this project as possible, so we shall see what he picks out. I will try to lead him to red if possible.

Thanks so much for the help! Until the next question arises....

 

[Mister B]

I voted "other". My other is, whatever is cheaper.

 

[gander007]

This is my brooder set up ....






The best equipment for a brooder is what you can afford or want to
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