How to make a chicken feeder
Many aspiring poultry farmers are wondering where to start. Most often in Russia, broiler chicks are selected and bred for their high meat-and-egg productivity and early maturity. Perhaps the most important thing in chicken breeding is the chicken feeder. A great option that will save you money is the hand-made chicken feeder shown in the video.
DIY broiler chicken feeder
What makes a feeding container for chicks different
The most important thing that distinguishes the container in which the poultry food is located is reliable protection against spreading and contamination. compound feed... Everyone knows the fact that chicks love to crawl into their plates and rummage in the feed with their paws. As a result, the birds remain hungry and the food becomes dirty. Contaminated feed can lead to poisoning of the chicks and a reduction in the newly purchased livestock.
Even though the broiler chicks' feeder is securely protected from feed spreading, it will still get dirty and therefore need to be washed and disinfected periodically. Hence, it is necessary to use a material that does not absorb odors, which can be washed with a disinfectant. An important point is the mobility of the structure, so that at any time it would be possible to rearrange it from one place to another without much effort. The ideal option is a do-it-yourself chicken feeder from scrap materials.
Naturally, the size of the broiler chicken feeder should be significantly smaller than for adults what can be seen in the photo and video. The optimal shape of the container is round. It is necessary to calculate the size so that all livestock at the same time have an approach to it, otherwise less physically developed individuals will constantly remain hungry and may die.
Types of feed distribution mechanisms
All homemade poultry feeding systems differ in the method of fastening, localization, materials of which they are made, and dimensions. Depending on the feed system, a distinction is made between:
- automatic constructions;
- grooved;
- regular trays.
Typically, the tray model is used for feeding with wet mash. The structure is equipped with a limiter that prevents birds from scattering and clogging up the feed. Grooved models are typically equipped with grooves and millstones. Automatic - the most reliable designs that allow you to fill in feed once a day or in several days. In such a mechanism, a gradual supply of feed is provided as needed.
Feeding mechanisms from what is at hand
The natural question that arises after all of the above is how to make a chicken feeder with your own hands what are its dimensions. One of the most popular designs is the chicken feeder made from a plastic bottle. To be able to make a construction, you will need:
- screws, nuts;
- plastic bottle;
- a plastic plate or cup;
- nails, wire;
- watering can.
Above the bottom of the bottle, it is necessary to make holes, then set the bottle in the center of the plate or bowl and attach it to the bottom with a self-tapping screw so that the feeder does not turn over. Hot pieces of wire are inserted into the bowl at 3 cm increments to create a barrier for the chicks through which they cannot enter the feeder.
Bottle feeders for chickens in the homemade ranking are in first place in demand. The easiest way to make them, and the materials are always at hand. You can build a couple of such feeders, so that all individuals have enough food if the livestock is too large.
To feed small day old chicks, you can make a very simple design from an old container from discs and a plastic plate. Cuts are made along the top edge of the container at a certain distance. Carefully you need to make sure that the incisions are smooth, in order to avoid injury to the chicks, then you need to pour the food into the container and, cover with a plate, turn it over. The small bird feeder is ready.
Automatic feed mechanism
Farming can be very tedious and the chicks simply don’t have time to keep an eye on the availability of feed in the feeders. For a large farm, an automatic do-it-yourself broiler feeder is suitable, suitable for both adults and chickens. There is enough feed in such feeders for a long time, and it is fed as needed. For the manufacture of feeders and auto drinkers for chickens you need:
- 2 pieces of plastic pipe;
- self-tapping screws;
- metal knife;
- two taps;
- plug and adapter.
Often, after the repair of plumbing fixtures, pieces of plastic profile remain on the farm. If they are not at home, then in the store they are not sold so expensively. It is necessary to connect the pipes using an adapter, to which two half-branches must be connected. Having connected the two structures, they are attached to the wall. If the chick population is large, it is not necessary to make multiple feeders. Longer pipes are connected to the tee and several holes are made to provide access to the feed.
Feeding mechanism for growing young stock
Broiler feeders are essentially the same as other bird feeders, but chicks of this breed gain weight very quickly due to their appetite, and over time they need a large container for feed. Already grown up youngsters can make a do-it-yourself feeder from a plastic bucket. When making such a feeder, it is necessary to select a bucket only from food grade plastic, in no case use containers from under construction materials. To make this model, you will need a bucket, a 5 liter plastic cooler bottle, cardboard and a stationery knife.
Cut out a rectangular template from cardboard. It should be of such a size that the chick's head can pass freely, plus a centimeter for growth. Next, you need to make markup on the bucket using a template. The bottom of the opening should be oriented towards the age and height of the young broilers. Two pieces of 15 cm should be cut from the plastic pipe, in which holes should be made.
With the help of a watering can, you need to fill the bottle with food and put on the profile sections, put the bucket on top and turn it over. This design is more complex in execution, but at the same time more stable and reliable. The capacious bottle allows you to forget about the constant filling of feed for a long time. If it's not entirely clear how to make a feeder, you can see the photo.
Wooden feeding mechanism
Often in the household there are many unnecessary wooden planks that have nowhere to adapt. For chicks, you can make a feeder in the form of a long box. Of course, making a wooden structure yourself will be more difficult than previous models, but it will last much longer. Initially, you should draw drawings on paper, and then transfer them to a tree.
The height should be approximately 20-25 cm, width - 20, length - up to 1 m. The back wall is fixed at an angle. A net with large cells is put on the top of the box. Instead of a mesh, you can attach a wooden plank along, and across - several sides. On the worldwide network, you can find a video that describes in detail the design of products with your own hands from scrap materials.
Now you know how to make a good chicken feeder. Every novice farmer can make any designs for feeding and drinking at home. The price for suitable containers in modern stores is quite high for them, so it is quite possible to save money and adapt unnecessary things to a useful business.