Bucket style feeder - wasted feed?

[Kai9]

I used to use a trough style feeder that I made which works fine but when we get heavy winds with rain, it can be a little challenging to keep it dry due to the design of my coop/run. I'm trying out the bucket feeder but I noticed that a lot of feed gets dumped out as they eat. They don't seem to eat any of the feed from the floor so it looks like it's being wasted. Is this common with this style feeder? I might go back to the trough set up and make a set up to protect it from the rain.

 

[paddock36]

I switched to pellet feed. It took a couple days for them to decide they were hungry to eat it, but they did eat it and it resulted in less waisted food.

 

[Toothpick]

I have a similar set up for food, just a lot bigger. I use pellets and they don't seem to waste nearly as much. Mine is kept inside the coop though.

 

[Kai9]

I tried pellets and they seem to avoid it altogether. Maybe I didn't give it enough time before switching back to crumbles. I'll get a small bag and give it another shot. Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

Interesting openings on the buckets. I don't know if they are a factor or not. Probably not. I just cut 2-1/2" holes in the side of the bucket. It's not cute but it worked. I do not put a top on mine so there is a lot of light.

How high do you fill the feed inside the bucket? Is it so full the feed is just falling out? When I fill mine the feed does not come up to the openings but stay a bit below. They stick their heads all of the way in to eat.

You can try putting a tray under that bucket to catch what falls out. Elevate the tray like you did the bucket. If they still don't eat it, remove the bucket until they clean the tray up.

Good luck! This kind of stuff can be frustrating.

 

[Kai9]

Interesting openings on the buckets. I don't know if they are a factor or not. Probably not. I just cut 2-1/2" holes in the side of the bucket. It's not cute but it worked. I do not put a top on mine so there is a lot of light.

How high do you fill the feed inside the bucket? Is it so full the feed is just falling out? When I fill mine the feed does not come up to the openings but stay a bit below. They stick their heads all of the way in to eat.

You can try putting a tray under that bucket to catch what falls out. Elevate the tray like you did the bucket. If they still don't eat it, remove the bucket until they clean the tray up.

Good luck! This kind of stuff can be frustrating.

Those openings are designed so that you can fill the bucket up without it spilling out of the holes. It has a type of hood design on the inside. Its more for convenience so you don't have to keep refilling the bucket daily. How does yours work with just having the opening on the sides? I imagine you can't fill it above the holes, right?

 

[FrostRanger]

Those types of feeders do best with pellets, I use 2 with pellets and there's very little waste, if some does get on the ground someone comes by and eats it

I'd mix in some pellets with their crumbles and they should eventually figure out the pellets are food

 

[FrostRanger]

Interesting openings on the buckets. I don't know if they are a factor or not. Probably not. I just cut 2-1/2" holes in the side of the bucket. It's not cute but it worked. I do not put a top on mine so there is a lot of light.

How high do you fill the feed inside the bucket? Is it so full the feed is just falling out? When I fill mine the feed does not come up to the openings but stay a bit below. They stick their heads all of the way in to eat.

You can try putting a tray under that bucket to catch what falls out. Elevate the tray like you did the bucket. If they still don't eat it, remove the bucket until they clean the tray up.

Good luck! This kind of stuff can be frustrating.

Those ports have pipes that curve downward so feed won't spill out even if it's filled to the top

 

[Ridgerunner]

How does yours work with just having the opening on the sides? I imagine you can't fill it above the holes, right?

I thought I said that but yes, I cannot fill it above the holes. Some gets spilled but not that much.

I typically feed and water twice a day. I have a few of these feeders spread out so I refill the ones that need it when needed. That's usually once a day for each feeder. I don't want the feed to get old and stale.

I'm usually down there three times a day anyway. In the morning to open the pop door, late afternoon to collect eggs, and after dark to shut the pop door.