The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[BlindLemonChicken]

My concern about treadle feeders is that opossums and raccoons might learn to use them. What say you about that?

They’d have to get in the run first is my guess

 

[Appalachickens]

My concern about treadle feeders is that opossums and raccoons might learn to use them. What say you about that?

Oh for sure - in a heart beat. In fact, I had to rig up a locking system for the metal trashcan I keep my extra feed in after a raccoon got into it in the shed. But my treadle feeder is in a completely predator-proofed run. Since I have an open coop, the run had to be as secure as the coop.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ah, yeah, makes sense. Wouldn't work here then, the run is nowhere near predator-proof. Would cost a king's ransom to make it so.

 

[Appalachickens]

Ah, yeah, makes sense. Wouldn't work here then, the run is nowhere near predator-proof. Would cost a king's ransom to make it so.

My run is only 120 SF but even so it took a LOT of HC to cover the sides, roof, and make an apron. Plus a second layer of welded wire around the bottom three feet. But I was committed to the open coop idea.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My run is only 120 SF but even so it took a LOT of HC to cover the sides, roof, and make an apron. Plus a second layer of welded wire around the bottom three feet. But I was committed to the open coop idea.View attachment 4296352

That's a great setup! Our run is about ten times that size, plus we free range part of the day. Predators not much of a problem here thanks to our three dogs, and thank God too of course. Once in a great while we'll get a dog through here, but not often and it's been a while.