Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Hanging tube feeder
Some folks prefer to use a
roll-type feeder.
This feeder has a roll bar located across
the top that turns when your birds jump up on it. This simple mechanism is supposed to
prevent them from climbing into their feed and wasting it. I have never had much suc-
cess with these feeders, however. My birds always seem to be able to roost on the bar
and the feeder ends up full of manure.
Note: The more feed you have available, the greater the chances that you'll attract
mice and rats. Rodents thrive near poultry residences. If you have a continuous supply
of feed that the chickens are not consuming within the day, the rats will easily find it
and communicate the discovery to their neighbors. Before you know it, you may have
as many mice and rats as you have chickens. To discourage rodents (who prefer to feed
at night), limit the amount of feed you have left at the end of the day.
It's frankly impossible to have a feeder that bars feasting rodents while still being ac-
cessible to poultry. The key with rodents is to be proactive and take care of the popula-
tion before it becomes large. See
chapter 26
,
Dealing with Predators, for rodent-control
methods.
Waterers
For a water source, adult chickens or bantams can use small rubber water buckets, easily
obtained at most farm stores. To avoid tipping, rubber buckets can be placed several
inches down into the soil of earthen-bottom pens and then filled with water. They should
be dumped and refilled on a daily basis. Another way to keep the bucket from tipping
is to set the rubber bucket of water inside the opening of a discarded automobile tire.
These buckets work well because you can break the ice out of them in the winter without
also breaking the bucket. This type of bucket works great with older birds, but don't use
them with young chickens or they may drown or become chilled.
Flat pans for water do not work very well for chickens at any time of the year. The
birds tend to make messes in them during winter months and when they get too hot in
summer.
Waterfowl need a water source that's deep enough for them to dip their nostrils into
to keep them clean. If they cannot do this, you will likely have several serious respirat-
ory and sinus disease problems develop. Rubber buckets or pans work best, but if at all
possible, water your waterfowl outside your building, because when they start getting
bored inside the shed, they will spend most of their time playing in the waterer. The res-
ult of their fun is soggy, moldy bedding — a huge icy mess in the colder months that's
much less fun for you than it is for the fowl.
