Treadle feeder for pekins...

Hi Nerdle - I have just replied to your PM - hope the information helps. Springlands

could you put a funnel arrangement at the top of where the feeder hangs from. if slipperey enough the mice would fall off.

is your house/run area secure from breakins from rats/foxes....is the wire buried in an L shape into the ground? rats would make a hole next to the fence and an emerging hole inside.
I back onto fields and a paddock to one side so I can't stop mice, I haven't come across rats recently, but next door's compostbin is just pallets and the farmer has a grain store...massive holes there.
I hand mine, one of which is a pekin

brain going here

I hang the feeders and the pekin eats fine.

Mine free range and had a whole month of pure outdoors as the new run built. I have a rat trap but not used it within the last year as no sign of any.

I leave the feeders out most nights too.

I bring mine in every night   

Leaving them out really does encourage rodents and they will be there, even if you don't see them.  Slugs and snails also like to eat layers pellets.  Hens tend to be fairly protective over feeders during the day and will chase away wild birds, but the wild birds will be up before the hens and eating from the feeders given half a chance.  Its all potential sources of contamination and disease that I personally don't think are worth risking, unless you take the plunge on the treadle feeder