Wasted Feed Problem

[cnicho05]

Hello,

Over the last several months I've begun to have a problem with feed being wasted in my chicken run. It seems like the eight chickens I have simply throw a large portion of their feed from the 1.5 gallon feeder I have onto the ground. Once the feed is on the ground it oftentimes gets wet and my chickens leave it.

When this problem first began I purchased a new feeder in an attempt to solve the problem. This one had a smaller opening to prevent them from scratching the feed out of the serving area and onto the ground (I'm not sure if this is happening or if they are pecking it out). Still, this didn't solve the problem as I noticed about 5-6 cups of feed scattered onto the ground this evening...

Does anyone know of a way to keep them from wasting so much feed?

 

[Judy]

Is your feeder high enough? If it is at about their "shoulder" height, where they can just reach it without stretching, they usually won't "bill" or scratch it out. Sometimes it helps to put a solid item such as a scrap of plywood under the feeder so they are more likely to eat what is spilled. You could also look into homemade feeders in our Coops section (in the brown strip.)

 

[iwiw60]

This is what I did...they're wonderful, and if I can put them together being 70 years old...so can you!

Here's some different "styles":

 

[Primo]

Raise it up. I raise mine up high enough where they actually have to stretch a little to get it.

 

[tebosa30]

I agree, raising your feeders to breast height will prevent them from scratching and waisting feed. Good luck.