Wasting food

[Raubkatze]

My chicks have been on this food since day 1, but since moving them to their outside house they have started being extremely wasteful with it. It's Kalmbach's "Start Right" feed: https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/collections/poultry/products/18-start-right-chick-feed-non-gmo. I also offer them Kalmbach Chickhouse Reserve to dig through as a treat: https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/products/chickhouse-reserve?_pos=1&_sid=18bb1f078&_ss=r.

Once it's out of the feeder and on the ground they won't touch it. They are also eating grass and I've noticed them starting to dig around for bugs too. I went with this style feeder because I thought it would be the least wasteful, but somehow they are still pulling a ton of food out with their faces. Any other suggestions?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I have never used that type in particular but I had good results with the round ones with holes and raised legs. They have to peck down into the holes and can’t pull or scratch feed out. Plus they’re not super expensive. Chickens are jerks

 

[nuthatched]

Are the ports upside down?
I use a good old metal gravity feeder, I sed it up on a cinderblock so they can kick out feed.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Those port feeders are notorious for feed billing. A proper feed tray needs sides with flanges of at least 3/4" and there needs to be a horizontal lip protruding into the feed tray at least 1/2". That will cover 95% of hens then the final 5% will need a feeder with a feeder lip extender, taking the front lip up 1" to stop feed raking.

On occasion you can drop a chunk of chicken wire on top of the feed to prevent raking.

With the pullets you might need to wait until they are at least 4 pounds before purchasing a treadle feeder. That is the ultimate waste free feeder but pay close attention to the negative reviews.

 

[Raubkatze]

Are the ports upside down?
I use a good old metal gravity feeder, I sed it up on a cinderblock so they can kick out feed.

They are right side up.