What did I do wrong? PVC feeder waste!!

[akchickenman]

I built a PVC pipe feeder but my chickens (11-13 weeks old) are still wasting a ton of food. Since they are different ages, the feeder is set for the height of the smallest bird. But it seems like at least 50% of the pullet grower crumbles end up on the floor of the coop. Is this normal with a PVC feeder? What could I do to eliminate even more waste?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I have the same thing, i put a rubber feed bowl under it and every few days i scoopit out and put it in another dish and add water, a good way to use up the powdery stuff. They think it's special when its wet

Gary

 

[blackdog043]

If you want to keep that feeder, I would add another piece, to extend where they eat from but still get the feed, maybe 3 - 4 inches. Then make a small platform, for them to stand on so they can get their head to the feed.
I use a 5 gallon no waste feeder and never have any problems, with wasted feed.

 

[chickisoup]

Same problem. I built 2 using 4" pipe. filled them yesterday. This morning I find a huge pile of feed on the floor! ARGH! There must be a solution for us. I hope someone can help.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Same problem. I built 2 using 4" pipe. filled them yesterday. This morning I find a huge pile of feed on the floor! ARGH! There must be a solution for us. I hope someone can help.

Did you look at the post above yours?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Did you even look at the post above yours?

Put a bowl under the feeder to catch the food, easy peasy lemon squeezy

Gary

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

IMO the placement of the elbows in the bucket feeder is wrong. On mine, I have the 90-degree elbow on the outside pointing up. That way they can't rake the food out onto the floor as they can in yours. The same principle applies to the Y-elbow on the other feeder. That 45-degree angle allows them to rake the food onto the floor; a 90-degree elbow would prevent that.

 

[akchickenman]

If you want to keep that feeder, I would add another piece, to extend where they eat from but still get the feed, maybe 3 - 4 inches. Then make a small platform, for them to stand on so they can get their head to the feed.
View attachment 1079093 View attachment 1079095

Thanks! I'll give that a shot!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

btw, there's an easier way to secure the elbow to the bucket than using angle brackets like you did.

Cut the flange off of a street 90-degree elbow and use a coarse file or rasp to smooth both cuts (make sure to round the edges of the cut on the elbow because this will be the opening that chickens eat from.

Insert from the outside the street end of the elbow (the end without a flange) through the bucket hole with the other end on the outside pointing up. Then take the flange piece that you cut off and insert it over the street end on the inside until it is snug against the bucket. This should hold the elbow in place, but I use silicone caulk on the outside seam to firm things up.

And that's it.

 

[blackdog043]

My elbows point down and are 3/4 of an inch off the bottom. There is no wasted food and they can't rake the food out. Please post a picture of yours, I made mine per the thread on here. Except, I used L brackets with small round head screws. This way I didn't have to use silicone and I know they won't ever move.