Would you use a dedicated feeder for kitchen scraps? (Design feedback wanted)

[Aaron Lynn]

Hi everyone!

To reduce the feed costs of raising chickens, I plan to increase the proportion of alternative feeds. Therefore, I am designing a feeder specifically for kitchen scraps, garden waste, and fresh foods (not pellets/grains). Before proceeding further, I'd love honest feedback from actual chicken keepers.

The concept:

1. Heavy-duty metal table
2. Removable deep tray - Dual
   1. Wooden frame
   2. Punched metal sheet

I'm trying to understand:

1. How do you currently feed scraps/fresh foods? (throw on ground, bowls, other?)
2. What frustrates you most about your current method? (mess, pests, waste, time, chickens making a disaster?)
3. Would you pay for a dedicated scraps feeder, or is "good enough" good enough?
4. If you would buy one, what's your honest price ceiling? ($20? $40? $60+?)
5. What features would be make-or-break for you?
   • Rodent-proof?
   • Easy to clean?
   • Holds X days worth of scraps?
   • Weather protection?
   • Something else?
6. Urban/suburban vs rural? (Curious if needs differ by location)

What I'm NOT asking for: Polite encouragement I need brutal honesty about whether this solves a real problem or if I'm solving something that doesn't need solving.

Thanks for any insights!

 

[FluffyButts55]

You want to make sure that your chickens are getting enough feed though, because that has all the protein and vitamins they need. (besides the occasional treat.) overfeeding of other things: scratch, foodscraps, mealworms, and other treats can lead to vitamin deficiencies, soft eggs, and other problems. Thats my opinion though, so I would ask others too.

 

[Aaron Lynn]

You want to make sure that your chickens are getting enough feed though, because that has all the protein and vitamins they need. (besides the occasional treat.) overfeeding of other things: scratch, foodscraps, mealworms, and other treats can lead to vitamin deficiencies, soft eggs, and other problems. Thats my opinion though, so I would ask others too.

Thank you for the feedback. I've seen many posts mentioning the 90/10 rule. However, my feed costs are really too high. I think as long as nutritional balance is maintained, there's no need to worry about the specific form of the feed. For example, protein - I have some leftover fish and meat scraps every day.

 

[redinator]

Hi everyone!

To reduce the feed costs of raising chickens, I plan to increase the proportion of alternative feeds. Therefore, I am designing a feeder specifically for kitchen scraps, garden waste, and fresh foods (not pellets/grains). Before proceeding further, I'd love honest feedback from actual chicken keepers.

The concept:

1. Heavy-duty metal table
2. Removable deep tray - Dual
   1. Wooden frame
   2. Punched metal sheet

View attachment 4250917

I'm trying to understand:

1. How do you currently feed scraps/fresh foods? (throw on ground, bowls, other?)
2. What frustrates you most about your current method? (mess, pests, waste, time, chickens making a disaster?)
3. Would you pay for a dedicated scraps feeder, or is "good enough" good enough?
4. If you would buy one, what's your honest price ceiling? ($20? $40? $60+?)
5. What features would be make-or-break for you?
   • Rodent-proof?
   • Easy to clean?
   • Holds X days worth of scraps?
   • Weather protection?
   • Something else?
6. Urban/suburban vs rural? (Curious if needs differ by location)

What I'm NOT asking for: Polite encouragement I need brutal honesty about whether this solves a real problem or if I'm solving something that doesn't need solving.

Thanks for any insights!

I prefer to scatter treats and scraps so everyone has a chance at getting some. If it's all in one feeder the lower ranking chickens and younger birds will get left out.

I toss fruits, meats scarps, veggies far and wide. Every two weeks or so I rake up any rinds and leftover bits and toss them in the trash.

I also use pallets on top of pavers as chick hides. When I put out treats I toss some through the slats of the pallets that only the smaller, younger chickens can reach.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Just try to keep it large enough or anchor it to an object so they CAN eat. If it doesn't have enough weight or is hard to rip apart beak-only, they will not finish. If you meet these criteria and they don't finish either they're not used to the food itself yet (the taste), or it's simply too much.

I also scatter the pieces.

 

[SourRoses]

If I were to use a feeder for anything considered a treat by the chickens, I would want a very long, very narrow trough. Enough for each chicken to have a spot in line along one side, but approachable from both sides (so double the spots). That's the only chance lower ranking birds would have to get anything.
It would need a solid bottom to catch liquids, as many of the scraps we give have sauces or is soup / stew. On occasion I like to give milk that's close to going off (good nutrition).

BUT I still probably wouldn't pay more than $30 for such a feeder, because the frequency of scraps is limited to our need to get rid of excess. It's not the best food for the chickens so we treat it accordingly. Food in a condition I wouldn't eat even if very hungry, goes in the trash rather than risking my birds.

To save money on feed, I would focus any investment on the feeders for dry commercial feed to reduce waste. Chickens billing feed out and thieving critters can cause large losses.
Dry feed should always be available to avoid food anxiety in the birds.
I've also found the least expensive feed option to be choosing a grower (20%) which is nutritionally near identical to All-Flock. Dumor brand is $20 for 50lbs.
Put Oyster shell free choice in a separate dish as usual.
The only reason I don't currently feed that is I'm hatching a lot so the slightly improved Methionine in All-Flock was appealing. But $5 more per bag!

 

[Aaron Lynn]

If I were to use a feeder for anything considered a treat by the chickens, I would want a very long, very narrow trough. Enough for each chicken to have a spot in line along one side, but approachable from both sides (so double the spots). That's the only chance lower ranking birds would have to get anything.
It would need a solid bottom to catch liquids, as many of the scraps we give have sauces or is soup / stew. On occasion I like to give milk that's close to going off (good nutrition).

BUT I still probably wouldn't pay more than $30 for such a feeder, because the frequency of scraps is limited to our need to get rid of excess. It's not the best food for the chickens so we treat it accordingly. Food in a condition I wouldn't eat even if very hungry, goes in the trash rather than risking my birds.

To save money on feed, I would focus any investment on the feeders for dry commercial feed to reduce waste. Chickens billing feed out and thieving critters can cause large losses.
Dry feed should always be available to avoid food anxiety in the birds.
I've also found the least expensive feed option to be choosing a grower (20%) which is nutritionally near identical to All-Flock. Dumor brand is $20 for 50lbs.
Put Oyster shell free choice in a separate dish as usual.
The only reason I don't currently feed that is I'm hatching a lot so the slightly improved Methionine in All-Flock was appealing. But $5 more per bag!

Thank you for sharing such detailed and thoughtful feedback! Your practical experience really shines through, and these are exactly the kinds of insights that would be valuable for anyone designing chicken feeding systems.

 

[Debbie292d]

Due to raising/breeding silkies (prone to vitamin deficiencies), they rarely get treats other than their Henhouse Reserve, which is a layer feed they get as scratch. That's just thrown far and wide in the various areas where they are, so everyone gets some.

A couple of times a month, scrambled eggs or leftover pasta and or rice (pasta and rice I toss with a little Poultry Cell to ensure it has some nutritional value), and the same thing, just tossed far and wide in the various areas where they are.

Kale and a few other items from the garden, when it's in season, a couple of times a week.