Wasting chick feed

the_peep_squad

Chirping
Jun 9, 2020
69
98
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My chicks aparently like to scratch. Every time I fill their bowl, the immediately go nuts. They end up kicking most of the food out. They also fill the feeder with pine shavings. I got tired of wasting so much food into the bedding, so I added a low plastic container to hold the feeder. It catches most of the kick out. When the bowl is empty, but food is all over the container I remove the bowl until the eat most of the food they kicked out. They still drag in shavings and now have pooped in the food bowl.

Is this normal? Any ideas on how to lessen the waste? I have gone through almost 5lbs in feed in almost 3 weeks. Is there anything I can do with the wasted (poopified) feed?
 

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if you wet or ferment the feed there will be a lot less waste. Raising the bowl off the floor is also a good idea. Pick out any poo they drop in it. Give them more things to play with if you can't let them scratch outside - they are only doing what comes naturally, looking for bugs.
 
After a week switch the chicks to a mini pvc no waste feeder (the Folgers) and then after 3 weeks to a juvenile sized one and then adult by 7-8 weeks. It’s just an elbow jammed into a plastic tub. I have to fill mine once a month (using 2 tubs for 6-9 laying hens).

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