mel Posted November 25, 2010 Share Posted November 25, 2010 I thought you might like to know how I've got around feeding wheat in the afternoon now that it's dark by the time I get home from work. I've bought an automatic cat feeder and it works a treat. It has two feed trays with pop-up lids and runs on one AA battery. The clockwork mechanism allows me to set any time in a 24 hour clock for the lids on the trays to pop open, so I set both for about 2.30pm so that my five girls can all get a look-in at the same time. I've put it under my Cube on a flat stone to keep it dry. The girls got used to it very quickly and now hang about under there when it's due to open. I'm glad that I'm able to keep their routine going this winter as I'm sure they missed it last year. I'm sure this must be something other people have already discovered, but for those who haven't, I hope you may find it useful too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 25, 2010 Share Posted November 25, 2010 Thats a great idea! I can just imagine them all hanging round it, waiting for it to open! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 25, 2010 Share Posted November 25, 2010 Perfect idea for when I am at work! The wheat/corn really helps to keep them warm in winter. Might have to get a couple of those. Thanks for the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 That's a really good idea, even when I'm just out for a day. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 I thought when I saw the title of the thread it was going to be a human being not an actual real automatic device! I think the girls look on us humans as automatic wheat feeders! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 What a good idea! I bet they stand round it all day, pecking at it and saying to each other, 'How do we get this darned thing open? It opened yesterday, why won't it open today?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophia_chicken Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 What a clever idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 you wait, they'll suss out the mechanism and get in there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 Is it the one with the lids that pop up and if it is do they flip up quickly?? i can just imagine a hen being catapulted off if they were stood on it Im off to argos in a bit so may just get one of those... such a good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 Is it the one with the lids that pop up and if it is do they flip up quickly?? i can just imagine a hen being catapulted off if they were stood on it flying practice maybe?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted November 26, 2010 Author Share Posted November 26, 2010 I'm glad this may help with some of your winter feeding, I've had some great advice from this forum and it's nice to be able to contribute something for a change. I got mine from Argos for about £27.00. I was also worried that the lids might pop up and either catapult a chicken into the Cube sheet like a ball into a net, or smack them under the chin! Luckily the spring mechanism isn't that strong. I spent the first trial Saturday staring out of the window to check that no accidents occurred when it opened, however, I'd miss-timed it and got bored after 20 minutes or so. I missed it opening and so did the girls, who were all happily pecking about at the other end of the run. I ended up having to go out and point at it whilst making encouraging noises for the first day, but all went smoothly after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 Since reading (and posting) about this earlier, I've been looking at what's available. For my set up (8 garden girls, with some very dominant characters) I think I'd need several of the single feeders, probably 4 or 5 I think, to make sure everyone got some corn. On the alltoment, it would probably work with 1 double feeder per pen. I think I will keep an eye out for some second hand ones to try. Thanks again for sharing this idea. Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 Great idea if you can rig up a holder on the top of a covered run so the feeder is upside down this would stop the chooks getting at the mechanism and also when it opened the feed would drop and scatter keeping the hens occupied for longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
