Hens dumping food from tube feeder?

[rgspine]

I use a tube feeder. From time to time I will see a bunch of pellets dumped from the feeder. It won't happen for a while then they go through 3-4 days where a bunch of pellets are dumped from the feeder. Is this a typical chicken behavior? Is it possible it's the squirrels? I've never seen squirrels at the tube feeder but they have access to the grounds and cleanup leftover scratch. Thanks for any comments or other possibilities.

 

[swamphiker]

Photos would be helpful, but if other animals have access to the feeder they are a likely culprit. Squirrels, rats, mice, raccoons, possums, etc. will all help themselves to chicken feed if they can!

 

[nuthatched]

Is it just pellets in the feeder?