Using a Kuhl feeder for a backyard flock...

[father-clucker]

Hi.. So we have a flock of 4 hens right now and we are using (and have been using) a ~2 gallon size (~12-14" tall) metal feeder that we got from a local feed place. It works to a point but we must hand-drop the food daily as the food 'dust' clogs the bottom and the gravity feed does not work at all (IMHO). I'd like a different feeder that can be relied upon to feed the birds if we go out for a weekend trip or something and not to worry that the birds are starving..

After reading a number of reviews it seems like the Kuhl 50# range feeder (model RF50) would work -- it seems to get great reviews and I can dump an 50# entire bag of pellet feed (OH Kruse organic layer) into it.. Yes, I realize that feeder could easily feed dozens of birds and it's kinda big (~2' around, 2' tall) but IF it works I could probably get away with weeks of trouble-free service..

Does anyone have any experience with the smaller Kuhl's? They don't appear to have as many reviews and some complaints about how they're constructed -- but nothing really bad about the big dude mentioned earlier.

Do any of these handle the dusty crumbs that tends to pile up at the bottom of the feeder? Sorry for the stupid questions.. I'm just trying to ensure my daily effort is reduced as much as possible..

Thanks all!

 

[LoneOak]

It is not the feeder causing your problem it is the feed. Just as soon as your birds get to laying age and you switch to layer pellets the gravity feed problem will disappear and you will love the Kuhl feeder. Your best bet for the time being with just 4 birds is to buy a couple smaller plastic feeders that you can hang around your coop, something along this line, 6.6 lb plastic feeder (use a plastic coffee can lid to make a top cover-folgers lid works great). Two of these are anything you find local-the red ones work well- in this size would be great for a weekend. Make sure you hang them high enough that your birds have to reach up and can just barely get their head and neck inside or they will waste a lot.

Don't buy these, poly feeder base, as the shape of the opening makes for the most wasteful feeder ever made, half of the feed will be in the coop floor and the other half might get eaten. Don't buy that great big huge one you were thinking about either. If you were to fill it up half of the feed or more would get dirty and most likely spoil long before they could eat it all. It wouldn't be long before your little birds were roosting on the feeders edge and pooping in it either

 

[father-clucker]

Thanks.. In our case the birds have been laying for the past 7 months and our current feeder does not spill that much but does require daily 'work' to ensure there is food for the birds. The current feeder can be completely full of food but the gravity feature just does not work -- there can be a bit down in the bottom along with food 'dirt' (dust from pellets that are no longer pellets if you know what I mean).. If you pickup the feeder and spin it the food will come down but that is far from automatic.. Do the Kuhl feeders or similar work better? I agree with your comment about the poly feeders -- we use those for the chicks and they will be spilled within seconds of being put in with the birds..

 

[kuntrygirl]

Here are pics of our feeders. We have some that we made and the other is one that we bought from Tractor Supply. It is a hanging feeder that is in our open air raised coop. I only have to fill it up about once a week.

 

[LoneOak]

Quote: I have a tendency to do that with every hanging feeder I've ever had. No way are any of them automatic down to the last drop!

 

[boyswillbeboys]

I have a hanging one like kuntrygirl, and have had no problem with the food not dropping down, but it's not large enough for my flock to go more than a day, and they spill a lot, mind you they are still on the crumbles, I can't wait to see if the waste is at least reduced once they move up to pellets.

 

[father-clucker]

Thanks all.. How about using a Kuhl R-30 feeder -- or their HF-20G hanging feeder (looks kinda like kuntrygirl's in the above photo) -- anyone use either one? I don't necessarily need one that hangs.. I just need one that does not need attention daily. Our current galvanized unit will not drop down much (if any) feed during the day as the birds eat the pellets. I'd like one that will gravity feed..

 

[father-clucker]

I have a hanging one like kuntrygirl, and have had no problem with the food not dropping down, but it's not large enough for my flock to go more than a day, and they spill a lot, mind you they are still on the crumbles, I can't wait to see if the waste is at least reduced once they move up to pellets.

How big is your flock? More than 4 birds?

 

[boyswillbeboys]

How big is your flock?  More than 4 birds?

, yeah, sorry, it's 44 chicks, down to 28 come butcher time.

 

[Rich386]

Hi.. So we have a flock of 4 hens right now and we are using (and have been using) a ~2 gallon size (~12-14" tall) metal feeder that we got from a local feed place. It works to a point but we must hand-drop the food daily as the food 'dust' clogs the bottom and the gravity feed does not work at all (IMHO). I'd like a different feeder that can be relied upon to feed the birds if we go out for a weekend trip or something and not to worry that the birds are starving..

After reading a number of reviews it seems like the Kuhl 50# range feeder (model RF50) would work -- it seems to get great reviews and I can dump an 50# entire bag of pellet feed (OH Kruse organic layer) into it.. Yes, I realize that feeder could easily feed dozens of birds and it's kinda big (~2' around, 2' tall) but IF it works I could probably get away with weeks of trouble-free service..

Does anyone have any experience with the smaller Kuhl's? They don't appear to have as many reviews and some complaints about how they're constructed -- but nothing really bad about the big dude mentioned earlier.

Do any of these handle the dusty crumbs that tends to pile up at the bottom of the feeder? Sorry for the stupid questions.. I'm just trying to ensure my daily effort is reduced as much as possible..

Thanks all!

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