Wet Feed

[cookiesdaddy]

I just discovered something interesting: I put the feeder outside the coop. The girls kept billing out the lay crumbles and wasting them all over the ground. They never seemed to care about eating them from the ground. Then recently I cleaned the run and watered the ground. Then the girls jumped in, pecking and eating those moistened crumbles.

Has anyone observed chickens enjoying moistened feed? And is there a problem with it?

 

[schlitch]

My hanging feeder got wet after a rainstorm a few days ago, and soaked some of the feed in the bottom. The chicken continued to eat it, but I know there is a concern about mold growing in the feed and so I'm wondering how others deal with their feeders outside.

It looks like I may have to design some type of half box that comes over the feeder but that the chickens can still get too. But I definitely want to get some ideas from what others have done with feeders outside in the run and rain.

 

[Nuggetsowner:)]

My feeders are in the run outside- for some reason they just won't eat from it when it is inside. I don't know what i'm gonna do when it is -50 in the middle of winter here in Minnesota but anyway. The food gets wet everytime it rains! I have been throwing it out! Everyone says don't feed wet feed because of mold so I throw mine out. It seems like a waste but I don't want sick chickens either. I hope someone with more experience will chime in here and give us the "Yep your doin' the right thing!" or "You guys are crazy!"

 

[silkiechicken]

I have a tarp outside over the feed so it doesn't get wet in the rain. It will mold within a day or two when the feed does get wet so you don't want it to sit out that way. They do really like to eat wet food though. If you want to feed them wet food, only do so in amount small enough to finish at one gobbling session.

 

[Pine Grove]

I't also helps during this time of the year, by giving them added moisture for the new feathers comming in.
And if you really want to see those feathers shine soak their feed in buttermilk. just give enough to consume in one feeding.

 

[doghamstyluv95]

My chickens love wet feed, they hate eating dry!

 

[GoodEgg]

Quote:
I learn something new every day ... sometimes lots of somethings new!

Thanks, Pine Grove! Might have to try this!

trish

 

[schlitch]

I noticed too that once the feed go wet the rooster sure seemed to eat ALOT more of it. I'll work on designing something to help and if it works out I'll post some pics of my attempts.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[wegotchickens]

We fill our small feeder every day for the peeps, so I always give them the wet feed out of it after a rain. Also, if I have soggy leftovers to give them I mix some crumbles into the feed. They really do seem to love it.

I didn't know about mold in wet feed, but we so rarely have rain any more that I know the feed isn't sitting long.

 

[allen wranch]

Nuggetsowner,
Your birds may not like the feed being in the coop, but if you leave it there, they will eventually realize they have to come inside to eat. They will not starve during the process. Just have some patience.

Even though my feeders are all inside (except two, but they are in metal covered runs), I found the moisture in the air from all the rain we had caused some mold. I found green pellets in the bottom of some of my feeders.