Why Bother to Use a Food Feeder?

[bcmama]

I have to question why I am using a feeder instead of just placing the feed on the floor of the brooder? LOL As soon as I put it in they scratch it out and then just continue to scratch on the floor. I just cleaned the brooder as I do every other day and they have to go through and scratch like crazy kicking food out and wood chips into their water and all over each other. Oh children...

 

[Mingming]

Good question! I started with chicks back in Feb and just recently gave up the ghost and just bought a big bowl for them to eat out of... Of course, I've only got 8. With more you might need 2 bowls! But I'd be interested in other people's opinions as well.

 

[Stephanie739]

I used a regular bowl for my first set of chick babies, and yes, they spilled the food all over...

I bought one of the special bowls with the holes all around for them to stick their heads in and love it! I am saving so much money on food. Hardly any food spills with the special chick bowls.

 

[Roxannemc]

I think the feeders are mostly to keep them from standing in the food and pooping on it.I am thinking of doing the same with my big girls b/c the feeder iis too shallow and i have to shake it at least 4 times a day to get anything but fine powder down to the trough

 

[TonySorrento]

That is why I won't feed chicks when the feeder is empty ... they will eat what they throw on the floor ... when they do, I feed them again...

 

[Stephanie739]

I'm confused. What kind of feeder are you all talking about? My last couple batches of chick babies haven't spilled any food from these chick feeders, like the one pictured above. I have since bought another and wondered how much money I wasted on spilled food (while trying to save money on not buying the feeder)

 

[fried green eggs]

I elevate the chick feeder (holes they stick head in type) as they grow and then they don't waste food. I also raise the waterer so, they don't scratch bedding into it. By raising the feeder and waterer as they grow - the feed and water will stay clean. After they are 2 wks old they get a larger feeder & waterer, that I hang and raise as they get larger. When they graduate from brooder they get a 5 gal nipple water bucket and trough feeder which is covered and they can only fit head in. I have several pens and the feeders all hold 30# - 50# each. Only need to fill water & feed once or twice a week. I hope this helps give you some ideas

 

[fried green eggs]

I used a regular bowl for my first set of chick babies, and yes, they spilled the food all over...

I bought one of the special bowls with the holes all around for them to stick their heads in and love it! I am saving so much money on food. Hardly any food spills with the special chick bowls.

The chick feeder in this picture is made to fit a Mason Jar to hold more feed and then they can't stand and eat out of the large center hole.

 

[bcmama]

So the feeder I I was using was the silver one on the bottom of the photo. It has a cover but the holes were so big that I took it off because I was afraid they would get stuck and so I left it just like that. Bad idea. Food goes in one moment and out the next. Such a waste. So I bought a new feeder today excited to try it out, you can see it in the bottom left corner.


Well... with all the scratching, how are they going to find the food now? It's covered and I spent all this time food processing the feed because the pieces were so big for starter feed. Kids never appreciate the work their parents put into them. Hahaha


Don't get me started on the water dish which looks like this red one without the holes and is now sits on a brick which I empty and fill at least 5x's a day due to chips. And I thought chickens were going to be easy pets.????

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I have one of the silver ones, I usually just use one of the bottoms of the quart waterers when I first get them though, so that they can learn. With the silver one I found a gigantic mason jar, so I put that on top and that holds them over for a long time.

I figure, even if I'm going to loose the fight, I might as well try *sigh*.