Totally confused! Feeders

[A1momof3]

I'm working on my coop and trying to deside on what feeding system to use but I'm lost. What do you use, what wiorks best? The bucket ones, PBC pipe ones with the holes in them? Does the food get all the way to the end of those? Lots of choices and I just can't deside!

 

[Murphy212]

I use the Little Giant 11 lb plastic hanging feeder for my 11 chickens. I hang it in the coop from a cup hook and just fill it whenever it needs it....about every couple of days. I was going to make one of the tube feeders but never found a good spot for it in my coop so I just went with this. It is easy, the chickens like it, they just go into the coop to eat and since I switched to pellets from crumbles, don't have any waste by them throwing it on the floor.
You may have to just try a feeder and see how it works for you and your schedule. If it doesn't, then look for something else.
Good luck!

 

[pawtraitart]

I'm working on my coop and trying to deside on what feeding system to use but I'm lost. What do you use, what wiorks best? The bucket ones, PBC pipe ones with the holes in them? Does the food get all the way to the end of those? Lots of choices and I just can't deside!

For a large number of birds I like the 5 gallon bucket with the 4" pvc elbow. I tried the pvc tube feeders but I didn't like that I couldn't see how much food was in there. I did like that they didn't take up as much space as the buckets, though. For my bantams and small groups of hens I use 3 quart to 1 gallon canister feeders which are clear so I can easily see the food level. For my turkeys I use a long trough type feeder. My ducks do well with a feed pan. So, I guess my suggestion would depend on the bird type/number you are feeding. There isn't a single solution for every flock.

 

[A1momof3]

I love this site. Y'all are just wonderful with help! I grew up with chickens and swore i would never have them as an adult. Now I do and I'm so excited!! I have 20 hen, a mix of RIR and barred rocks. I have a large area luckily for them to live.

 

[Arielle]

With 20 hen, consider having at least 2 feeding areas, and at least 2 waterers. So the most timid girls can get food and nourishment.

WHich design you choose can depend on what your coop looks like and where these items will fit.

In my small coops, the feeders are built in and can hold about 20# of feed; in other cocps I can hang feeders that hold 50#. Waterers stay cleaner if they are well above the litter of the coop-- I often stack lumber under the waterers for the smaller ones to reach.

Trial and error is your best teacher; I have tried and made many designs, and which one I use depends on the situation and time of year ( freezing weather sets in by Dec here.)