what size feeder and drinker?

bockhamptoners · « **on:** June 23, 2008, 23:26 »

hello, we are getting 4 hens and have seen on ebay some enamel sets they have 3lt,5lt or 8lt, which size would you reccomend

also i'm sure i have read on here that you feed them in the morning if that is the case do you then take the feeder out of the run? and if you shut the hens in at night do you have to provide water in the house?
sorry for all the questions :oops:

kimT · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2008, 23:39 »

I think I would go for the biggest one.

Take the feeder out of the run at night incase the food becomes damp or it encourages vermin.

You don't need to put food or water in the house at night.

Sadgit · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2008, 09:22 »

I leave my feeder in the run at night in the covered part, and the run is fully enclosed so no vermin can get in.. well not yet they have anyway

I have 3 girls and have a 5l drinker and 3l feeder.

bockhamptoners · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2008, 09:31 »

thaks a million

the girls have been put aside for us till we get everything organised. we are very excited

Bodger · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2008, 10:37 »

Water wise, I use fairly small containers, this discourages laziness on my part, so that i'm not as tempted as I would be otherwise to let things slide. I empty and change the water for all my chickens at least twice a day and in this way the liquid refreshment for my birds is always nice and fresh.

Porffor · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2008, 14:29 »

I have a small 'bowl' type feeder in the henhouse with shell in it and another with water in it.

They definately use both, and I read on here that egg production needs water, so they shouldn't be without water for more than 12 hours.

Also, i did end up with vermin prob as left feed out.. :roll: it now hangs from the underside of the house in the shelter and is about 4 inches from the ground, seems to have stopped the problem

That and rat poison

Fifitrix · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2008, 23:37 »

Am I the only person who finds that her hens don't eat out of feeder and only seem interested in food scattered on the ground?

I know it's natural but I do worry about vermin.

compostqueen · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2008, 23:56 »

One of my hens completely emptied the feeder today, scooped the lot out onto the floor then walked off :roll: Didn't give them anything else til it was eaten up

FCG · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2008, 00:13 »

Fifitrix mine seem to like to scatter it and then peck it up. So i'm definitely the same.

How many litres of food (in one of these feeders) should a bird eat a day? Or should you just let them have as much as they like?

Fifitrix · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2008, 09:27 »

Well I'm learning on the job but I just lob a bowl full in when I can't see any of the last lot.

Usually amounts to 2 bowlfuls a day but hey I don't know what I'm doing! :? :shock:

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what size feeder and drinker?

Bodger

Porffor