The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bloomer on September 27, 2010, 01:29:37 pm

Title: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: bloomer on September 27, 2010, 01:29:37 pm

I feed my chickens in there house with a refillable hopper thing that sits on the floor and they keep burying it with sawdust...

Is this normal or are they just trying to wind me up?

Am i better feeding them out in the run if i add a covered are to keep the feeder dry?

Oh the joys of learning chicken keeping...
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: sheardale on September 27, 2010, 01:35:11 pm
Try both ways.  Feeding dish inside and out.  A lot of it is trial and error.  I have 2 feeding dishes inside and 2 troughs outside.  They eat from both.
Cheers Helen
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: 7 acres on September 27, 2010, 03:34:45 pm
can you hang the feeder so its a little up from the floor then they can still scrat the floor but the trough is above
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: ellisr on September 27, 2010, 03:43:49 pm
I raise my feeders both inside and out on bricks this stops the feed getting full of unwanted items.
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: Daveravey on September 27, 2010, 04:54:05 pm
Raise it 'til it's level with their backs   ;)
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: CameronS on September 27, 2010, 05:01:22 pm
i have no feeders, and no water inside my huts, i did but they juast made a mess and food was getting wasted, i have a weather proff hanging feeder in the run, and haning waterdrinkers
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: bloomer on September 27, 2010, 07:28:17 pm
i have no feeders, and no water inside my huts, i did but they juast made a mess and food was getting wasted, i have a weather proff hanging feeder in the run, and haning waterdrinkers

do they not need access to food and water at night then?
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: ellisr on September 27, 2010, 07:35:28 pm
Chickens do not need water or food during the night, my inside feeders and waters are there because I have some chickens in the barn as the fox is attacking a lot at the moment
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: bloomer on September 27, 2010, 07:40:47 pm
see thats why i come here more useful information will make life much easier, wetherproof feeder for outside is tomorrows project!!!!
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: knightquest on September 27, 2010, 08:34:08 pm
i have no feeders, and no water inside my huts, i did but they juast made a mess and food was getting wasted, i have a weather proff hanging feeder in the run, and haning waterdrinkers

Same here but I have a hanging metal water feeder outside with a smaller plastic one on a raised platform that they can climb or fly on to. The plastic one has the apple cider vinegar in it too.

Ian
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: bazzais on September 27, 2010, 10:44:56 pm
Have you got an area that you can leave 'clean' - I only put straw under their perches and in their boxes, I leave a little bit by the door without anything on the floor and thats where I put their food and water.

Your right though - they just seem to dirty their food and drink - a bit like every other animal seems to do!!  :chook: :chook:

Ta

Baz
Title: Re: stupid chicks burying there feeder?
Post by: bloomer on September 27, 2010, 10:50:12 pm
i was leaving a clear space that just made them throw stuff further!!!

i am currently trying the up on bricks approach till i can get a weather proof area built into there run then the food is going outside!!!