[blade]

Hi all,

We have just started keeping 4 chickens, feeding them on a mixture of chicken mix corn and layers pellets initially out of a ground based hopper and we have now tried containers attached to the side of the coops run and up on a couple of bricks but despite all of this they just seem to scatter 90% of it over the floor of the coop and it is wasted.
Is it :-
a) they are getting 2  much food
b) they all do it regardless
c) I need a better designed container for the food

Any advice gratefully received

[doganjo]

First of all check the bag for the amount of food your chickens need per day.  Weigh it out and use a scoop to see how much it is to save weighing it every time.  I divide that by two and feed them that amount twice - morning and teatime.  I scatter some and put the rest in a  hopper.  It is usually all gone in a few minutes.  I also give them some greens and short cut grass on any days I can't let them out in the paddock.  I think you will always get some scattering but they will usually finish the food off in a short time.  Hens like scratching about - it is their main job in life 

[Geo]

The gap at the bottom of your hopper where the feed runs out into the trough is too large. I presume it is adjustable, close it down until the feed just comes out without sticking. I have three 45kg hoppers which I only fill once a week, if the gap is wide the hens will scrape the wheat out in about three days.
Regards Geo.

[harry]

block the feed tray at the bottom with wood or large stones or fence wire... leaving about 1 inch free at one end for feed, then only one can feed at a time and the others will pick up the spillage while waiting... block the other side up completly