Wasting mash feed

[Sophie442]

I have 17 hens. I have a feeder hanging that I put the feed in. I have been reading other forums about the food waste, but my concern is this. The feed on the ground is mixed with cedar chips and some poo. The newest birds will go around and clean up, but I'm not sure how long I should make them do this before feeding them again. Today I locked out the older 5 hens, the biggest food wasters, and I am letting the younger flock clean up. They are going to town, but I realize there's poop in it and I don't know how realistic it is to make them do this. I clean the coop once a week....I am changing the feeder tonight to a 5 gal bucket w holes drilled in the bottom.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A feeder like this (come in many sizes) helps prevent the birds billing out feed.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-hanging-feeder-for-5-15-birds-7-lb

Also, pellets as opposed to mash helps cause if it falls on the ground they can still pick it up.

Chickens need feed available at all times. If they don't have it they'll fill their crop with whatever is available. That could be feces, bedding, etc.. You don't want that.

If excess usage and waste is a problem, consider fermenting the feed or at least moistening it. There is no waste.

 

[Sophie442]

That is actually the feeder I have hung! Ha! I did the bucket w holes drilled and it seems better . Thanks for your answer! Now if I could keep the old flock from blocking the feed and water.

 

[aart]

A feeder like this (come in many sizes) helps prevent the birds billing out feed.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-hanging-feeder-for-5-15-birds-7-lb

Semi-viable concept to deter billing out........trumped by too shallow of a dish.

Saw someone take one of these and attach the same diameter but much deeper pan on the bottom...worked a charm.

I went a whole different route.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder

 

[morbius18]

A feeder like this (come in many sizes) helps prevent the birds billing out feed.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-hanging-feeder-for-5-15-birds-7-lb

Also, pellets as opposed to mash helps cause if it falls on the ground they can still pick it up.

Chickens need feed available at all times. If they don't have it they'll fill their crop with whatever is available. That could be feces, bedding, etc.. You don't want that.

If excess usage and waste is a problem, consider fermenting the feed or at least moistening it. There is no waste.

Mine still knock it out onto the ground below my coop (its raised and the hanging feeder under it). I bought round water heater pans from lowes. They are like 3 ft diameter, but they have smaller ones too. Put it under the feeder and the knocked food falls into the pan. They cannot really scratch it out of the pan's 2-3 inch height.

That has helped cut down on wasted food. I also switched to pellets as well.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Semi-viable concept to deter billing out........trumped by too shallow of a dish.

Saw someone take one of these and attach the same diameter but much deeper pan on the bottom...worked a charm.

I went a whole different route.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder

Quote:

Mine still knock it out onto the ground below my coop (its raised and the hanging feeder under it). I bought round water heater pans from lowes. They are like 3 ft diameter, but they have smaller ones too. Put it under the feeder and the knocked food falls into the pan. They cannot really scratch it out of the pan's 2-3 inch height.

That has helped cut down on wasted food. I also switched to pellets as well.

X2
I have catch pans under all my hanging dry feeders.

Fermenting feed also eliminates waste.