[poultrygeist]

After suggestions please.

We have a 3l plastic cheap feeder and keep it stocked with layer's pellets all the time. It's stood on a plastic tray (the lid that came with the box we use for dust bath) and I've recently raised it on 2 bricks.

When the chooks feed they get their beaks in generally throw the food around obviously looking to see if there's anything more exciting under the bland pellets. Perfectly natural behaviour.

Trouble is, a lot of the food is just flying around the tray and run (concrete area) and getting dirty and inedible. We must sweep up more food each evening than they actually eat !

Is this the norm or do you manage to overcome this ?

Thanks for any thoughts.
Rob

[Vember]

Mne do exactly the same, and they're eating corn! I just keep tidying up the mess!!

[skyblue]

Hi

I had the same problem. raise the feeder up so that the lip of the feeder is just below their wattles that way they have to reach in to feed and don't throw it around. also put a lot less food in then if they scatter it they have to eat whats on the floor or go hungry they soon learn. always clean up each evening what they haven't eaten to prevent rats and mice.

[poultrygeist]

Glad we're not the only ones !

I'll try raising it up a bit more. They were scratching in it before I put it on bricks which sent the food flying for yards !

yesterday they emptied the hopper by mid-afternoon and we left it on the ground and tray but they basically ignored it and just yelled for more through the fence ! Trouble is, by the time they've trodden all over it and had a good cr*p on it I don't think it's terribly appetising and may even be a health hazard but I will try raising it up further.

I agree about the vermine issue. We don't want to make it worth their while breaking into the run. If it ain't there, it's not worth the effort and risk.

Rob

[Tina&Tony]

I have a large 'hopper' hanging in the run and mine do the same - I think this must be a problem most of us have...  I've been looking at those 'grids' which fit over the area they pick the grain out of..  It has the effect of separating the feeding bit into smaller compartments so they cant do those big 'sideways sweeps' to clear the top layer of pellets..
Tina

[poultrygeist]

That sounds a good idea.

I've got loads of scrap bits of wood which I might be able to make some sort of enclosed box type effort which would at least limit the range of scatter !

We did start to try and salvage some of it but it gets so dirty that I didn't want to risk giving them worms or something equallt nasty. I've never liked waste so it grieves me to throw so much away each time.

I'll try raising the hopper and see if that helps.

[Foxy]

you can buy "treddle" feeders of varying volumes. These work by only allowing access to the feed when the birds stand on the "treddle" which then allows a small amount to be released from the feeder. They are also supposed to be rodent proof as well.  An advantage is you can fill it right up and will stay dry even outside in the rain.I have a large one to be used when they are outside in the summer area.
Otherwise well they are just messy!!!  

[babe]

i think its great fun when they chuck it all about. its just chickens being chickens

[poultrygeist]

i think its great fun when they chuck it all about. its just chickens being chickens

Entirely agree........but.....I would rather they were able to still eat the stuff they chuck about. It's the poo infested mess that annoys me.

Unless I can toilet train them  :shock:  ? ...now there's a challenge.  

R

[babe]

Unless I can toilet train them  :shock:  ? ...now there's a challenge.  

R

nah its a piece of p.......

[poultrygeist]

     

Like the pink and glitter theme !!

Had to be really I suppose.

R

[Midwife]

Babe! What are you like? :shock:   Do you think up these things all by yourself?  

[babe]

 Do you think up these things all by yourself?  

no midwife, its the little people at the bottom of the garden  

[Wildeone]

                   

[poultrygeist]

 Do you think up these things all by yourself?  

no midwife, its the little people at the bottom of the garden  

...and I bet they tell each other about the strange woman in the big house.