automatic feeder

[Michele]

Do you have an opinion about using the Petmate Le Bistro Feeder or Waterer with Microban, 5 Gallon for chickens?

Thanks.

[Debbie Fishell]

Thanks for the web site. Chris. I think I'll get my husband to build one of those for me!

[Kelly Walentiny]

WOW!!!! That seems so perfect. Have you seen one used? I just worry that the chickens would not be big or heavy enough to open it????? Especially the bantams. I guess chickens always eat together and at the same time so a couple of them would definitely open it. Just wondering if you have seen it in action. It seems almost to good to be true lol
Thanks

[Debbie Fishell]

I like using an automatic waterer (don't happen to have one now, but I have in the past). Unless the feeder is inside the coop, I don't use an auto feeder though. I like my chickens to eat all of the outside feed shortly after I give it to them, then , while they're eating that, I put more feed inside the coop for them to eat later. The reason I don't use an automatic outside feeder is because it won't be long before wild birds discover it and once they start coming you are exposing your chickens to a slew of diseases, not to mention going through a lot more feed.

[Rachel]

I responded to this thread on the main page, but wanted to interject my two cents here. :) There are two main types of autofeeders: the gravity-fed ones that let the birds eat as much as they want whenever they want and the programmable kind which just release set amounts of food at certain times of the day. The gravity-fed ones are a huge pain in the butt if wild birds have access to them, the programmable ones can be wonderful. This way there isn't a bunch of feed waiting around for the sparrows.
I think the treadle feeders could be great too, just have to be careful that the lid is light enough so that if a bird steps off and there's another bird with her head in the trough she doesn't get knocked out. ;)

[Michele]

these comments are very helpful.

[Jay Vaughn]

I built one using a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and a Five gallon water bottle from Wal Mart. Cheap to make and works great. I have the plans

[Kelly Walentiny]

What is the name of the "step on" style feeder? Where would a person get one from? Local or online? I would like to see one maybe even try one out. But I am not sure where or how to find it :)