What makes these feeders so special?

[CCUK]

This is my feeder and waterer set up. I don't like to complicate things. There is also a galvanised grit feeder on the side of the run.

 

[Kiki]

Yeah, pretty certain the first three feeders were well overpriced. So hanging feeders is where its at, huh? I am a decent carpenter, anyone have any pictures of hanging feeding/watering setups? Homemade stuff is always interesting and generates tons of ideas for me.

There are quite a few homemade ones here:
Feeders & Waterers

 

[Cryss]

Oh, and hang it at the height of the chickens back. If it's on the ground they scratch some out, then scratch the ground around it to get what they scratched out. This results in dirt, poop, and bedding getting into the feeding tray and covering up all the feed. Same thing with waterers. Hang em chicken back height .

 

[Cryss]

I have the last option. It worked fine if hung above butt height and below head height. It’s cheap and messy. You have to wash out every couple days and replace water. It can get stuck on the twisting action with weather changes, it does freeze in freezing temperatures so need something else in winter if outside in run. I am moving towards rain barrel to horizontal nipple line for fresh clean water that helps me not to have to clean every couple days. I will have to choose something else in winter than fountain as heated base allowed to freeze at 22 or below degrees F when should have prevented freezing in 20 below.

Good advice.(psssst...question was about feeders but, yeah, this is good advice)

This is my feeder and waterer set up. I don't like to complicate things. There is also a galvanised grit feeder on the side of the run.
View attachment 1686781

Pretty much my set up too. I have a similar thing for grit and a second one for oyster shell.

 

[Melky]

Good advice.(psssst...question was about feeders but, yeah, this is good advice)


Pretty much my set up too. I have a similar thing for grit and a second one for oyster shell.

My post applies to both feeders and waterer as these come as a set often. I hang my rust resistant galvanized feeder for $5.00. Much cleaner.

 

[HopeSprings]

Get yourself a eye hook and screw it into a nice crossmember. They steal some clothes line rope from you wife and hang a feeder and waterer. Those cheapie red and white plastic ones are ok if you don't over tax the lid. There are several You Tube vids about making waterers with the nipples. Again get out your trusty drill and you're good to go. KWIM.

Actually I saw a YT vid the other day where a young fellow made a heated waterer from a 2 quart round cheapie ( $10) Coleman* cooler with a fish tank heater. Pretty neat I might try that this summer. For the nest winter of course.

"Clothes line rope" ??? "From your wife" ???
I was a wife at one time. Was I supposed to get clothes line rope when I got married?! Maybe that's what went wrong: I didn't have clothes line rope!
(I actually did have an iron -- he gave me one for Christmas. I still have the iron, unused. Don't have the husband anymore!)

 

[Cryss]

"Clothes line rope" ??? "From your wife" ???
I was a wife at one time. Was I supposed to get clothes line rope when I got married?! Maybe that's what went wrong: I didn't have clothes line rope!
(I actually did have an iron -- he gave me one for Christmas. I still have the iron, unused. Don't have the husband anymore!)

 

[rosemarythyme]

1) Treadle feeder is for rodent/wild bird food theft problems. I put away my feeder at night = no more rats!

2) Pretty sure I'd seen several simila DIY versions on here for a fraction of the cost

3) Think I've seen similar for rabbits? It looks like a cool idea but a little pricey.

4) Pretty much what I have though I have a smaller size. I don't hang it though as I don't have a crossbeam in the coop. I just put it on top of an overturned plant pot. As long as my chickens like the feed in there they don't make a mess even though I have it sitting pretty low (when they don't like the feed in there, they just knock it over haha).

 

[imnukensc]

"Clothes line rope" ??? "From your wife" ???
I was a wife at one time. Was I supposed to get clothes line rope when I got married?! Maybe that's what went wrong: I didn't have clothes line rope!
(I actually did have an iron -- he gave me one for Christmas. I still have the iron, unused. Don't have the husband anymore!)

Clothes line rope should have been included in the dowry.

 

[solidsnake]

Oh, and hang it at the height of the chickens back. If it's on the ground they scratch some out, then scratch the ground around it to get what they scratched out. This results in dirt, poop, and bedding getting into the feeding tray and covering up all the feed. Same thing with waterers. Hang em chicken back height .

Hmmm y'know I never had a problem with dirt getting into the feeder I have on the ground, it has a little rope on top so the girls can't knock it over. I think though, I have no problems with poop or dirt in the feeder because they figured out how to push the top off the feeder and they stick their whole heads inside and just eat it like that.