What do you put the treats in?

[The Kibble Goddess]

I have something leftover to give my girls almost every day. Ususally it's something cooked/sticky/gloppy. I don't have any suitable bowls I can reserve for their use so I put the treats in a aluminium pie pan. The girls generally fling/walk through/dump the food into the dirt. Doesn't seem to bother them, but it bothers me - so unsanitary! What do y'all put your treats in and does it keep the food out of the dirt? Or is dumping your food into the dirt a chicken thing and I should just get used to it?

 

[Chicken Boo]

I put mine on old pie tins if it is runny/gloppy (yogurt, oatmeal). I put dryer stuff on on top of a cinder block and on perches on my "chicken jungle gym". I also have a "cage" that I put cabbage and lettuce in.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=398450

 

[LindsayB]

I just use one of those heavy duty rubber feed bowls from tractor supply and wash it out when they are done. They flip it over sometimes, but its not really a big deal to me. If you're worried about them knocking it over on the ground you can try a large rabbit type feeding dish. One that you could clip on the side of the run or coop.

 

[swimmer]

Pie tin also. They will get it dirty. I just set it down and leave.

 

[LindsayB]

I also have a square cage that is hanging in the run. I put fresh fruits and vegetables in it.

 

[PepsNick]

I use a plastic flat container, tuberware or the pie tin, if they get pie.

 

[HeritageHens]

I asked this same question earlier as I have the same concerns. I tried a ceramic bowl but they apparently hate hitting the hard surface, just like they don't like pecking a hard ceramic egg used to break them from eating eggs. I tried lighter bowls but they just flip them over. Since the Tractor Supply rubber bowl is out of my price range (700 miles to the closest location!), I will look for one locally now that I know about that softer yet hygenic solution. Thank you!

 

[linben]

I use an old cast iron pan that is beyond repair and feed it out in the yard so I don't worry about spillage. Sometimes I use an old pie pan but I don't really care about spillage. Dry things I usually put on the ground and spread it so they all have a chance to get some.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

My husband bought the girls a "Life is Good" dog bowl and I put their treats in there. They don't seem to mind that it's hard ceramic. And it doesn't flip over if one of them decides to perch on the edge.

And they know that it's the treat bowl. When I come out in the morning, they run to greet me, and then run back and all stand around the bowl to see what I put in there. Grated apple and chopped up spinach are favorites.

 

[gritsar]

If it's runny - yogurt, spaghetti, oatmeal, etc. - I have an old metal dishpan that I put them in, otherwise treats go on the ground. If you're a germaphobe, best to get over it. We're talking about animals that will scratch thru a cow pile looking for the best "tasty bits". Their bodies are designed to handle it.