jules.chuck Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Hi, I have had my two lovely chickens for just over a week and found a very annoying habit when I put food in the grub box. One of them (I suspect Henny Penny ) gets the food out and makes a big pile all over the ground. Is this usual behaviour for chickens... It seems a waste as I am currently moving them around the garden every other day and so this leaves a mess on the ground and I am worried about encouraging rats and other vermin Interested to hear what your experiences are ! Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Are you feeding them mash or pellets? They tend to scatter mash around more. Why not place a litter tray or similar under the grub and see if you can minimise the mess that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules.chuck Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 I am using layers (pellets I think. still learning the terms ) What ever comes with the chickens That's a good idea of using a tray. I'll put one under the grub box tomorrow . Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Hi Jules As Eglutine says a tray underneath the grub is a good idea it works really well. I used to do this but then changed to a heavy dog bowl as they can't tip it over or scratch anything out of it. When I bought extra chooks I changed to this method. Hope this helps Best wishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Try putting the Grub feeder a wee bit higher.Mine are messy eaters too so i have it at such a height they cannot scoop the contents out onto floor,but can still eat properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 One of mine (Rosey) does this so I put an old seed tray underneath. I think this may have encouraged her and her 2 cronies more though as I think they like the sound as the pellets hit the box. They do tend to eat it all up though and any left I put back into the grub when I bring it in at night. Stevie thanks for the tip will try that tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Mine did this when it's full ... if the grub is not so full they don't do it. Well - as I've only refilled the grub once since having chooks I am no expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Cor I must have scoff-a-lots Steve as I have put more layers into my grub every day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Cor I must have scoff-a-lots Steve as I have put more layers into my grub every day Mine are young ... maybe that is why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Not sure how old yours are Steve. I got mine last week and I think they are between 17 and 19 weeks. I do have one very plump one though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 So do your chucks empty the grub everyday? On Sunday I filled it to the brim ... there is still about 25% left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I got them friday and filled the grub full. By sunday there was about a quarter left and I have been filling it to half full every day since and they eat it to under a quarter full every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Oh dear. The only thing I can think of is that either they have been eating a lot of grass and stuff from under the run (it's been in three places since we got it). They do a fantastic job of mowing the lawn. Or they are on a diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lapinou Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 ours didn't eat much at first and I put it down to them not laying yet...they've really picked up in the last couple of weeks on the amount they eat so I guess it's just them growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Perhaps I won't have to wait as long for eggs as I thought then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lapinou Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Perhaps I won't have to wait as long for eggs as I thought then Don't hold your breath! We still haven't got any Going away tomorrow too so my friend will probably get the first one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I have been telling myself that I shouldn't expect any before the end of the summer holidays so I would of had them 7 weeks by then. However I bet my lays while I am on holiday too lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I reckon on four hens eating one Grub completely full of layers pellets a day. But I actually give four hens two half-full Grubs, partly because I like to see each hen have its own feeding hole, but also because I find when the Grubs are full they get spilt. I also have a trick of combining pellets at night into the more "popular" of the two Grubs, so that no pellets stay outside for more than two days, but every one gets eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules.chuck Posted July 18, 2008 Author Share Posted July 18, 2008 Thanks for all the great ideas. The tray works they now pick it off the tray. Now I keep on finding the nest straw all over the run !! Mine must be really messy chickens I'll try raising the grub also as this might encourage them to eat it out of the Grub feeder. As they are on grass I want to introduce grit any good ideas for putting this in the run. I have tried an old branston pickle lid but that has now been turned over and is the other side of the run. Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I just mix grit in with the food in the grub. They also pick up small stones when free ranging. All chickens are messy, I lecture mine every day about the cleanliness of the nest box but it does no good (in fact it's about as effective as talking to 13 year old Son) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogdickinson Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 The Grub feaders are a bit of a disaster. Food is wasted in great quatities and it makes one heck of a mess. I've found the answer - buy a more conventional one of the hopper type design. Since I've been using one there's been no mess or wastage and it will last my 2 greedy chickens for nearly 2 weeks without refilling. They cost about £10 and are worth every penny! Likewise with the Glugs for water. They don't hold much (they won't last 2 chickens more than a couple of days) and they quickly get messy. I replaced it with a conventional one that holds 4 litres and lasts for 4+ days - great peace of mind if you go away for the weekend. There must be loads of places you can buy there but mine came from Countrywide Stores: http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=255 http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=256 Hope that helps. Rog (PS I don't work for Countrywide!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Do they tip them up Rog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I have the above from countrywide - instore they were £9.99 each or two for £15 (water & food). The feeder I hang from a bungee in the run and my monster grub emptier cannot do that any more - plus it holda 4kg of food so great when we are away for the weekend and not so much topping up for others when we are on a longer holiday. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogdickinson Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Not the slightest hint of them tipping them up - they'd have to try pretty hard to do so! On the other had I did find the glug container empty on the ground one day. I put my feeder/waterer on blocks to raise then a few inches above the bark that my run is on, but they're designed to be hung or put straight on the ground. They've certainly made it much easier to keep the girls fed and watered and the run is much easier to keep clean. Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Just ordered those in the hope that it will tidy up my run! I'v got two small drinkers, that the girls keep knocking over and a plastic feeder that they knock over - and as a result the top comes off and spills mash everywhere!! Spilled mash is not nice! It has become compacted beneath the bark chip, and stinks - it's also very warm - so is either fermenting or rotting! Big clean up this weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...