Is a pvc feeder safe?

[Felicia4517]

I've read conflicting views. Some say yes, some say no.

I'm considering making a diy trough for our chickens and outside cats as well out of pvc pipe. Making it in a way to where I can fill it and have it be a type of gravity feeder.

Is pvc safe to use? Is there a certain kind that's the safest? Or is there a safer and still cheap way to make a gravity feeder for a large flock and colony of cats?

 

[Chullicken]

Yes, PVC is safe for use with poultry. Its used for human consumption needs for decades. Probably the people saying its not are in the 'le natural' camp of thought. I use it quite a bit around my farm, cows, turkeys, chickens. In regard to PVC piping I'd stick with the white variety and save yourself some money. Maybe able to find some pieces someone isn't using.

 

[lazy gardener]

There have been threads posted where folks have made the PVC feeders, and had their roosters nearly starve to death b/c they won't reach in to eat b/c of their combs/wattles scraping on the edges of the feeders.

 

[Chullicken]

There have been threads posted where folks have made the PVC feeders, and had their roosters nearly starve to death b/c they won't reach in to eat b/c of their combs/wattles scraping on the edges of the feeders.

I've seen a lot of poorly thought out PVC systems on the interwebs...

 

[sourland]

AS @lazy gardener has stated make sure it is crafted so that any hens or roosters with large combs are able to feed from it, and also make sure that fines do not build up and get moldy.

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, the simpler you can make it, the better. I made 2 troughs out of plastic gutter. They have a spinning dowel across the top to keep them from perching/pooping in the feed.

 

[Chullicken]

Its kind of funny that I just realize plastic feeders/waters's a lot of use regularly are a from of PVC..one is just made denser for pressurized applications.

 

[Felicia4517]

I was thinking something like these

 

[Chullicken]

I was thinking something like theseView attachment 1216619 View attachment 1216621

First option is my favorite, I use something similar. The only thing I would add is to exten the tops out past the run wall. This makes it so much easier to fill them without going through the trouble of going into the coop. The long trough is great, but my birds will perch on anything and everything so I don't want the poop creating a bacteria overload in the food.

 

[Chullicken]

Can do so many cool chicken projects with PVP and depending on the project, a lot cheaper than using wood.