[SallyintNorth]

As well as our main flock of free range (though in a large foxproof pen) egg-layers we have a small (6 birds) household flock which is completely free range. 

We need to get a ratproof feeder for the latter.  We want the hens to have food available at all times and currently are feeding rats instead

Which one can people recommend please?

[nutterly_uts]

Following with interest. I really like the idea of the treadle feeders but reviews seem to be so mixed so looking for the best idea

[turtle]

Absolutely love our Grandpas feeder. Had it about a year now. Hens soon learnt how to use it and there is no food wastage at all. Expensive but worth every penny.

[SallyintNorth]

We also have free range ducks. Would they be likely to be able to pinch the hens’ food in one of these?

[Rosemary]

We've got Granpas - had them for years - and they are great.

[Ghdp]

Fan of grandpa. Hens were slow to get used to it ( about a month!) but really pleased with it. Worth the cost.

[Jim Bob]

I have the treadle from amazon. Does the job.

[SallyintNorth]

We've got Granpas - had them for years - and they are great.

Good to know!  What did you think about the ducks learning to raid it?

[Bionic]

We've got Granpas - had them for years - and they are great.

Good to know!  What did you think about the ducks learning to raid it?

Yep,  my ducks raid the grandpas feeder

[SallyintNorth]

We've got Granpas - had them for years - and they are great.

Good to know!  What did you think about the ducks learning to raid it?

Yep,  my ducks raid the grandpas feeder

Okay, well that’s not going to work for us, then .



How big and how heavy is the Grandpa feeder?  Would it be practical for us to put it in with the hens at bedtime, so at least they have ad lib for a few hours in the morning before they get let out?  (And we’d then have to shut it up or shut it away until bedtime again.)

[Part time dabbler]

We have two treadle feeders. They have been fine with the exception of one instance when the treadle had too much muck under it so in effect it remained open. I found that a rat had managed to get into the feed under the drop down metal bar. Suffice to say it could not get out and died. Never had that problem since.

[SallyintNorth]

We've got Granpas - had them for years - and they are great.

Good to know!  What did you think about the ducks learning to raid it?

Yep,  my ducks raid the grandpas feeder

Okay, well that’s not going to work for us, then .



How big and how heavy is the Grandpa feeder?  Would it be practical for us to put it in with the hens at bedtime, so at least they have ad lib for a few hours in the morning before they get let out?  (And we’d then have to shut it up or shut it away until bedtime again.)

I've now had a chat with my namesake at Grandpas Feeders in the UK, and have the dimensions.  It's 230mm x 430mm x 510mm and weighs 6.2kgs, so the idea of putting it away during the day is not really practical. Sally confirms that ducks can use the feeder, but says that because ducks eat by scooping, they won't find it very easy to use the feeder as shipped - although they will get a bit of feed out of it.  Where people want the feeder to feed hens and ducks, they recommend removing the grille so that ducks can scoop.

[Womble]

Okay, well that’s not going to work for us, then .

Unless you were to put the feeder inside a small area surrounded by a low, circular fence?  That way, the hens could hop up and over to the feeder, but the ducks couldn't.  If you made the fence as rat-proof as possible (?), that might also help you out?

Why don't you want the ducks to be able to access it, anyway?

[SallyintNorth]

Okay, well that’s not going to work for us, then .

Unless you were to put the feeder inside a small area surrounded by a low, circular fence?  That way, the hens could hop up and over to the feeder, but the ducks couldn't. 

  You're a genius, Womble 

I've already ordered one, on the basis we could limit the amount of food the ducks get from it by how we use it, but this is a really good idea, definitely worth investigating.

Why don't you want the ducks to be able to access it, anyway?

The ducks get two feeds a day, and clean up in less than a minute.  The ducks clearly do not need any more food, they are in tip-top condition and lay gazillions of eggs.

These hens run a little thin unless they get a good period of access to layers' pellets.

[SallyintNorth]

I've already ordered one, on the basis we could limit the amount of food the ducks get from it by how we use it

So the plan is that it lives in the hen's house run, and we'll put enough feed in it when we shut them up at night to give them as much as we think they'll eat in the morning before they're let out.  If they don't eat every last pellet, and the ducks do find it and how to use it, the ducks won't get a pile of feed so it won't be a big problem.

During the two week training period, when it's effectively open all the time, we will endeavour to only put enough in it that it will definitely be empty by the time the choox are let out, so the ducks won't also get trained during this time