Where do you put the feeders/drinkers?

[chris]

Most people seem to place them in the run - why is this? I'd envisaged putting them in the coop.. do they walk into them in the dark or something?

[chris]

Oh yes, and do you leave the feeders / drinkers in the run /coop all the time?

[chris]

Also (sorry!) I've just seen these spring feeder things.. how do they work? Do they pellets fall into the spring? Do you need 1 spring for each bird? Do the pellets always fall in the spring - what if a pellet is sideways on?

[Liza]

Chris what are you jabbering on about ?

Chickens Lay/sleep in the coop so the feed goes in the run for when they are awake/not laying I know us females can multitask but ....

As for feeders I use a basic plastic feeder but I only have 4 chooks.

I leave mine in the run but if you are worried about rats then remove the feeder at night.

Ill have some of what your on please !

[RichmondHens]

Most people seem to place them in the run - why is this? I'd envisaged putting them in the coop.. do they walk into them in the dark or something?

Chickens don't feed or drink in the dark, they sleep! Food and water should be placed outside in the daytime. Bring feeder in at night so the rats don't get it (store in a metal dustbin or similar rat proof container).

[RichmondHens]

Also (sorry!) I've just seen these spring feeder things.. how do they work? Do they pellets fall into the spring? Do you need 1 spring for each bird? Do the pellets always fall in the spring - what if a pellet is sideways on?

The pellet falls down from the barrel into the spring and the birds see it and peck at it until it falls - at least that's the theory. They are used quite widely for game bird rearing. We bought some spring feeders but didn't get on with them as unless the spring is the right tension (often difficult to adjust as it is dependent on how it has been made) the feed can fall through really quickly and end up in a heap on the floor. We bought hole feeders instead (like a baked bean can with holes punched in - some people use them for wild bird peanut feeders). This way the pellet is only released when the bird pecks at it.

We've tried many feeders over the years, and we still use a couple of types - the barrel on legs with hole feeder underneath for regular feeding, and the circular feeders with mexican hats for smaller growers and when worming.

[Snadger]

Chris what are you jabbering on about ?

Chickens Lay/sleep in the coop so the feed goes in the run for when they are awake/not laying I know us females can multitask but ....

As for feeders I use a basic plastic feeder but I only have 4 chooks.

I leave mine in the run but if you are worried about rats then remove the feeder at night.

Ill have some of what your on please !

Lol! Very succinct!

[chris]

Thanks Well, I dunno Liza - if you don't know - ask!


You're welcome to have my little un for a while, then you get used to waking up at 3, and are wide awake (please, do take her!)

[chris]

So, if it's throwing it down and freezing - they'll still go out in the run?

[Glutton4...]

So, if it's throwing it down and freezing - they'll still go out in the run?

Yup - mine do! The look like drowned rats half the time, but they soon seem to dry out. Luckily.

I bought two Hoppers with the spring dispensers in the bottom, they work very well. I have a couple of Chooks who just stand there and wait for someone else to peck the spring, but most of them pick it up easily.

The reason I bought the Hoppers was originally for when we go away. They have enough food for the duration, and I only need someone to come in and collect the (free) eggs - that isn't usually difficult! But they're so convenient, I use them all the time.

[elizajay]

So, if it's throwing it down and freezing - they'll still go out in the run?

Put a cover over the rood run and then they only get the horizontal rain wetting them.

[elizajay]

Put a cover over the rood run and then they only get the horizontal rain wetting them.

I mean run roof!

[Glutton4...]

I'll have a pint of what you're on EJ!

[elizajay]

You're on, if I can do that with tea, wait till I get onto the real stuff!

[Flummery]

My feeder hangs under the house which is up on legs and covered on all sides but one, so it's sheltered. I have a see-through roof on the whole run and it's so far prooved rat-proof so I leave it out all night. Good job as the chickens come out VERY early (auto door opener) in the summer andn would be starving by the time I get by bottom in gear!

I out the water in a washing-up type bowl in the run too. I have to break the ice on it on winter mornings but they cope.