****** DIY chicken feeder pipe! ******

[RonP]

I have 12 birds in a fully enclosed coop and 14x14 secured run.

Mind you, the flock spends their waking time, and eats, 90% outdoors, in their run.

I feed them fermented feed whenever possible...

I built this mostly for peace of mind, and as a backup.



Three stations, 3" PVC pipes with Y fitting. Concrete 16" paver block for nail and beak maintenance. It is sitting on 2 8" cinder blocks, I use deep litter.




Middle station is for feed. Picture shows the reserve, a 5 gallon reused water bottle with the funnel, a cutoff of another 5 gallon water bottle for extra reserve. It will easily hold 30+ pounds. It probably will last well over 2 months, if used exclusively. This reserve empties straight down into the middle feeder.



Above shows the 3 stations. Far left holds Grit, middle holds Feed, far right holds Crushed Oyster shells. Far left and right are capped. 2 foot pipe probably holds over a years supply of grit and oyster shell.



Another picture of the feed reserve, I'm pretty sure I put close to 40 pounds in there.
The reserve just sits in place, no nails or glue.
Everything can come apart easily if needed.

 

[WVDoug]

Nice set up.

One thing......my 18 go through about 120# a month. You'd likely need about 80# to last a month for 12.

 

[vader]

This is how I'm doing it now. A t piece and 2x45 deg bends either end. Works great for no mess

The food below fell out when I changed from the 90deg angle to this, not from them scraping it out.

are they 45 or 90 degree bends from the main

 

[RonP]

Nice set up.

One thing......my 18 go through about 120# a month. You'd likely need about 80# to last a month for 1

As stated, I feed fermented food outdoors for 90% of their food requirements.

This backup indoor feeder will easily contain 1 month's supply.

 

[danroberts]

I created my feeder using a 6 foot length of waste pipe with a cowling ( intended for poking through the roof of a house ) upturned for the feed bowl...works a treat and holds a months supply for 4 birds.

Mind me asking how you fill the pipe? from the pictures it looks like the roof access may be a challenge

 

[WVDoug]

As stated, I feed fermented food outdoors for 90% of their food requirements.

This backup indoor feeder will easily contain 1 month's supply.

Sorry, I guess I don't understand this part:
"It will easily hold 30+ pounds. It probably will last well over 2 months, if used exclusively."

 

[73luke]

The pipe itself is held in place by a hinged wooden piece. This moves out of the way and allows the pipe to be lowered towards me to be filled.

 

[RonP]

Sorry, I guess I don't understand this part:
"It will easily hold 30+ pounds. It probably will last well over 2 months, if used exclusively."

I can see why...sorry.

They have access to their fermented (primary) and other (secondary) food sources outdoors.
They spend most of their time, and primarily eat, outdoors.

This indoor feeder, will last a very long time as their backup (secondary), if their other (secondary) runs out.
They also have grit, oyster shells, and dry food (secondary food sources) outside the coop.

They prefer the fermented feed over the dry, but are offered everything free choice.
My predator situation prevents free ranging, their outdoor run is as secure as their coop.
They have access to it 24/7.

120 pounds in a month seems like a lot of feed.
Have you considered fermenting?
There is a LOT of information on this site.

 

[WVDoug]

It's only 3.5 oz a day per bird, so it's less than the generally accepted 4 oz. per day. I let them free range for an hour or so before sunset if I'm home in the evening. Can't let them roam all day due to neighbors and predators (primarily canines and birds of prey)

I tried fermenting. They seemed to like it but I need to find a better system (started smelling like vomit after a couple of days). I may do sprouts for them over the winter, and I started a meal worm farm 6 months ago. My 2 dozen originals are now many hundreds of pupae and beetles, soon to be many thousands.

 

[lengardens]

hope someone reads this?

how do you stop the grain from simply running through under its own pressure?

many thanks