whay a HANgING feeder or waterer

[davidr]

Gathering equioment for this spring.

Why do you want to hang the feeder and water?

What is the reason for getting them off the ground?

Thanx,

David

 

[jhudson]

I get mine off the ground because chickens love to scratch. If you don't get them up, they will be filled with everything that's on the floor. Less waste also.

 

[willowcol]

They waste less of the food if they can't get thier feet in the feeder to scratch it out. Your water stays cleaner if they can fill it with dirt and wood chips, that way you don't have to dump it and scrub it daily.

 

[cgmccary]

You can also set a hanging feeder at the desired height easier. I have one hanging feeder but don't use it very much, instead using a trough feeders with a curled lip and cup feeders on the fence.

My waterers are in the run, and I just put them on those round concrete [landscaping] blocks. I provide a brick step so my one bantam hen can hop up and drink. When there are little chicks running around with their mother, I provide a series of steps up to the water.

 

[davidr]

Thanx for the quick answers.

Stopping at the Farm and Fleet on the way home.

David

 

[rdranch]

Eventhough the waterer will have a handle on top of it don't hang it from there. Set it at the proper height by putting it on blocks or something similar.

Hanging a metal water fount will cause the seal to fail and all the water will come out.

 

[meriruka]

Or if you get a cheap one like I did, the handle snaps off as soon as you fill it and try to carry it.

 

[ORChick]

Quote:
I guess I've been lucky; mine has been hanging from that handle since moving the girls out to their coop last April, and I haven't had a problem. I have it hanging on a swinging arm so that I can push it into the shade under the hen house, out of the sun, and pull it back out again for easier filling. Same set up with the hanging feeder; keeps the feeder out of the sun, and also out of the rain.

 

[dancingbear]

When I used to sometimes raise Cornish X's for meat, I hung the feeders to keep them from lying down while eating. It seems to help avoid leg problems, and just that slight bit of exercise they get by standing instead of lying down while they stuff themselves, helps keep them from developing CHF (congestive heart failure). They stayed healthier that way. They're still disgusting feathered slugs, IMO, which is why I no longer raise them!

For other breeds, hanging feeders, and putting water on a cinder block or something, helps a lot with keeping it cleaner.