[alisonwo]

So far I have tried a RSPB bird bath which hangs from chains and filled this with the pellets, but they manage to chuck loads on the floor.  Have also got a plastic feeder thingy specifically for the job, but loads again end up on the floor.  I have a metal ground feeder which they stand on and that chucks it all over as well.  Apart from the waste of the food, it worries me about vermin as I know we have rats in the compost bin and mice as well.  I don't know what else to do - any suggestions would be gratefully received?? thanks alison

[Fredjones]

My chooks do the same, they throw pellets on the floor then eat them of the floor so what i have done is put less in food container, if this fails i am going to use a tray so any scattered food should stay in tray and bring it in at night.------Fred

[alisonwo]

Thanks Fred, yes I take mine in at night.  Have been looking at an Eltex hanging feeder with rain cover, but they are not cheep 

[newChickenMummy]

Mine do the same, I was thinking of fitting each of them with a pelican bib 

[Casey76]

I have a heavy duty plastic trough with a roll-top and separators to prevent the chooks getting their feet into the food.  It is about 1m long, and will hold just under 10kg of food.

Of course if I fill it too high the girls will flip out the food sideways, so I only keep it about half full.

I only ever put their pellets in it.  Anything else (mash, porridge etc) gets put in a big yellow salad bowl (and, by, do they know the sight of that!)

[Roughlee Handled]

Can I point out that you should not use anything feeder that will allow the rain or water to get on to the feed.

DO NOT USE A TRAY.

There are a whole host of illnesses that chickens can get from eating mouldy food.

I have one of these.

and the only time I have ever had them throw feed about is when I mixed in split corn.

[beulah59]

I have this one

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/3kg_Green_and_White_Chicken_Feeder.html



and the grid seems to prevent them flicking quite so much food around.

[Roughlee Handled]

beulah59 how does that stop the feed getting wet?

If you raise it off the ground with a brick the cant get there feet in it.

[Hennery]

We have one like the green and white one and it works really well - no waste at all. To keep the rain out you can get a plastic "chinamans hat" type thing that fits over the top.

[Roughlee Handled]

........ To keep the rain out you can get a plastic "chinamans hat" type thing that fits over the top.

Yes I know that but I want to make sure that others know that you can not leave these feeders out in the rain. Dam feed is a breeding ground for bacteria.

[scrappydoo]

  I have a feeder like the green & white one and the dividers do seem to stop them throwing food all over, it is also suspended at 'neck' height from the ground, to avoid vermin , and under the covered part of my run to avoid the rain. As for mash etc. I feed them that around lunch time and take the bowls away in the evening.

Regards

Steve

[alisonwo]

I should have said my feeders are hung from the roof of the coop which is covered so no rain can get into them apart from any blowing in from the side of course.  I was looking at one of those green and white ones yesterday, think I might go and get one.  I have seen a couple of people mention treadle feeders, although quite expensive do you think they are worth having??

[joyfull]

I have a similar feeder to roughlees which would hold 20kgs of feed (but then I can't lift it up easily to put it away at night. It is sat on a breeze block so they can't get their feet in. They may flick a few bits around with their beaks but as it is put it away about an hour before their bedtime they pick any pellets up when they have their mixed corn

[beulah59]

beulah59 how does that stop the feed getting wet?

If you raise it off the ground with a brick the cant get there feet in it.

The original question was about waste ... I hang mine under a cover ... here .... feeders not in photo though as I added them later!

[sallylouise]

I have the green and white one but I hang mine up under cover as they use to tip it out or get it covered in bark and mud where they scratch and forage for worms etc.