Official BYC Poll: Which type of feeder do you use: gravity, treadle, or automatic?

[DIYGuy24]

I hang my gravity feeder
Food scraps in a pan
Scatter scratch on the ground

 

[SueT]

I use big dog bowls and crocks for my flock of 10. No, they don't spill it. I empty them at the end of the day. Water is in a dog bowl too, a heated one for winter.
My small flock of 4 bantams gets a hanging feeder, but their waterer is also a dog bowl.

 

[BackyardinWales]

If it was one of mine did you reach out for help? Something was wrong if it didn't work.

Your handle says "in wales" so probably not. No matter whose feeder it was some pictures might help figure out why it failed. Too much money spent for it not to work.

Is it this one in the picture?

I am in Wales yes, and yes, it looks just like that, though sitting out in front of my garage now. Ready to bin one day.

 

[Evadig]

I use the typical plastic feeders from TSC, except during winter when I end up just throwing it on the ground. Since they’re in their coop nearly all winter, it keeps them busy.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I use this kind of deal, I don't have a pic of my exact system but there are lots of things like it on pinterest so I just took a screenshot.

It's really reliable and a good system for people to use when they go on vacation. Plus you don't have to go out every day and fill up a tray with food. It holds 1 50 lb bag of feed.
You can even do one of these deals if you have a lot of chickens:

 

[Al Gerhart]

I am in Wales yes, and yes, it looks just like that, though sitting out in front of my garage now. Ready to bin one day.

Okay, that is NOT a rat proof feeder, not in any way. It is made of metal but has no spring loaded door, no treadle, no way to keep the rodents from climbing or jumping into the feeder. Of course it failed at keeping rodents out, it was not designed to do that.

Apologize on correcting you but people read what you posted about the rat proof feeder failing and they assume you actually had a rat proof feeder and then they form ignorant opinions.

That was a standard wall mount gravity feeder.

 

[BackyardinWales]

Okay, that is NOT a rat proof feeder, not in any way. It is made of metal but has no spring loaded door, no treadle, no way to keep the rodents from climbing or jumping into the feeder. Of course it failed at keeping rodents out, it was not designed to do that.

Apologize on correcting you but people read what you posted about the rat proof feeder failing and they assume you actually had a rat proof feeder and then they form ignorant opinions.

That was a standard wall mount gravity feeder.

Well, it wasn't actually a wall mounted anything. But thanks. I have wondered about those treadle ones, but unless I have many more chickens (not likely) I'll stick with the easier hanging one.

 

[Al Gerhart]

The thing is, you don't need a treadle feeder if you aren't having a problem with rats so your methods are working fine.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I used to leave feed on the ground, but I read that that can attract rats. so I started feeding them with a homemade wooden trough, but it broke because I was stupid and didn't weather proof it. the thing was made of scrap wood and held together with cheap wood glue, so not much of a surprise. now I just use an old ice cream bucket, it's shallow enough they can reach, and wide enough that they stand in a circle and don't fight over it.

 

[paintedChix]

I have used several varieties of feeders. From rubber livestock tubs I already owned, to the standard round, galvanized hanging feeder to Kebonix & Rent A Coop pvc ported feeders in different sizes.



In some instances, I fed on the ground - figured what they missed or scratched under ok, as both drew bugs up & fertilized the "ground". I was feeding in tractors that moved through the yard & in 3 ×13' raised garden beds.

When I do have larger coop & runs, would like to do ported bins, but ...

In 2020, I noticed another issue popped up. Didn't matter what feed - horse/pony - pelleted feed w/ additives , alfalfa pellets, dry beet pulp shreds, a Sr mix feed w/ some molasses - stored in pony shed in the shade in galvanized or Rubbermaid trash cans. Duck feed pellets or "kibble" - stored in smallish galvanized trashcan or 5 gallon buckets next to pen outside (yes, sun & rain exposure). Chick starter crumble - Rubbermaid trash cans or 5 gallon buckets - in feed shed or under carport. All Flock - out in pony shed or barn; in 5 gallon buckets next to tractors in front yard that had some sun exposure. I had way reduced pony #s, no full size horses, a handful of ducks & also reduced #s of chicks, juvenile & mature chickens. Most if not all containers were "sweating". Then the feed around edges started clumping. Then molding. It happened w/ all the feeds - even the beet pulp shreds!

It also happened in the PVC ported feeders - different lid styles. Didn't matter if hung out or under a tarped roof.

I've used galvanized & Rubbermaid trash cans since 1995 for horse feed in MT (Cans stored outside strapped outside of feed pens/pasture w/ lids strapped tight), horse feed in southern NC since 1997 in 2 different barns before moved here in 2014. Chicken & ducks since 2011. Never experienced this before.

As I get chicks again now, i am replacing all the 5 gallon buckets. I don't want to replace any galvanized or Rubbermaid trashcans unless they are compromised... How worried do I need to be?

I did not usually have problems w/ ants or bugs. On occasion when I did, that feed went into compost, container completely washed, bleached & dried in sun before refilled w/ fresh feed. Area where that trashcan had been stored sprinkled w/ ant killer or later a combo of grits & DE. Usually worked & no issues for a long time. Barn & shed feed cans set up on pallets. Trashcans, some buckets outside set on cinder blocks. Not a lot of photos.