I built this no waste chick feeder, from the information contained in the thread link below.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-no-waste-quail-feeder.1232052/
The feeder is free standing and is not top heavy at all. I don't have it fastened to the platform that it sits on. I made an article for this build, if you want to save it for future use. Here is the link to my article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/no-waste-chick-feeder-build.74823/
What you will need, to build this feeder.
Plastic chick feeder base
3" x 2" PVC reducer
2" PVC coupling cut in half (what I used, cost .67 cents) or 1 1/2 - 2 inch piece of 2" PVC
3" PVC pipe, your choice of how long. I made mine about 20".
I didn't have any 2" PVC pipe around and didn't want to buy a 2' piece($5.00) for a 2 inch or so piece needed, so I bought a 2" coupling(.67 cents), cut it in half and duct taped it to the reducer. Sometimes I'm frugal or cheap haha. If you use 2" PVC pipe to put inside the adapter it would be a little less work.
The adapter, taped to the end of the reducer.
Next, I ground down the threads using a dremel sanding disc in the chick feeder base, so the piece above would go inside, but fit snug. This actually worked well with the tape, because I could adjust how far down the adapter will go into the feeder base and not move. So being frugal kinda worked on my side. You could probably put duct tape around the bottom of the reducer, for this to work the same way, if you used 2" PVC instead.
Put the adapter inside the feeder and adjust how far down you want the tube. I made it so the feed will fill about half way up the bottom base. You may have to make adjustments on height after your chicks use this, to make sure enough or not to much feed fills the base.
Feed about half way up the base, keeps the chicks from billing feed out.
Finished product. I had this 3" PVC test plug, so I used it to cap the top off. It's easier than taking a regular PVC cap off.
After a full day of 11 chicks using the feeder, there is hardly any feed on the platform.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-no-waste-quail-feeder.1232052/
The feeder is free standing and is not top heavy at all. I don't have it fastened to the platform that it sits on. I made an article for this build, if you want to save it for future use. Here is the link to my article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/no-waste-chick-feeder-build.74823/
What you will need, to build this feeder.
Plastic chick feeder base
3" x 2" PVC reducer
2" PVC coupling cut in half (what I used, cost .67 cents) or 1 1/2 - 2 inch piece of 2" PVC
3" PVC pipe, your choice of how long. I made mine about 20".
I didn't have any 2" PVC pipe around and didn't want to buy a 2' piece($5.00) for a 2 inch or so piece needed, so I bought a 2" coupling(.67 cents), cut it in half and duct taped it to the reducer. Sometimes I'm frugal or cheap haha. If you use 2" PVC pipe to put inside the adapter it would be a little less work.
The adapter, taped to the end of the reducer.
Next, I ground down the threads using a dremel sanding disc in the chick feeder base, so the piece above would go inside, but fit snug. This actually worked well with the tape, because I could adjust how far down the adapter will go into the feeder base and not move. So being frugal kinda worked on my side. You could probably put duct tape around the bottom of the reducer, for this to work the same way, if you used 2" PVC instead.
Put the adapter inside the feeder and adjust how far down you want the tube. I made it so the feed will fill about half way up the bottom base. You may have to make adjustments on height after your chicks use this, to make sure enough or not to much feed fills the base.
Feed about half way up the base, keeps the chicks from billing feed out.
Finished product. I had this 3" PVC test plug, so I used it to cap the top off. It's easier than taking a regular PVC cap off.
After a full day of 11 chicks using the feeder, there is hardly any feed on the platform.
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It is absolutely amazing how much the little fluff balls will scratch out of their feeders, which then settles into the bedding and becomes a moldy disgusting mess. I realized when my 14 tiny chicks were somehow going through over two mason jar chick feeders in less than a day that the feed wasn’t going into the chicks (or they would have exploded!)
