Eggshell Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 Does anyone have experience of this feeder? I've been looking at it online and wondering if it's a solution to pellets being tossed out of the Omlet feeder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 There is a discussion about it on the Backyard Chickens forum which comes up if you Google 'trigger happy chicken feeder' Eggshell. An American site so people have had to get them eBay shipped over from the UK. The second page has good reviews. From my brief read it appears some adjustment is needed to suit the pellet size. It takes time to train the chickens to peck at the trigger to get some pellets and some chickens can't learn. It does save a lot of wasted feed though and also saves topping up if you use a large enough metal container. Sounds like we should get some? Where did you see it advertised? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 I tried wright feeder and treadle feeder, both works for that purpose, I googled Trigger Happy Feeder. it seems to release a lot of pellets per peck, unless it is adjustable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggshell Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 I saw it on their own website. I think it is adjustable, because you make the hole in your container according to what sort of feed is coming through it. I do like the look of it, but I'm not sure if you would end up with the chickens pooing in that area and then the feed falling down on top of the poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Been on their web site Eggshell. They are very careful to avoid showing any details of the unit itself, which is only the trigger, not the container, tray or mounting system. But out of curiosity we've decided to order two because two of our runs are plagued by sparrows and we are losing at lot of feed. Will report in due course. It's not going to be a simple job rigging up the trigger to a feeder though, then we have to train the oldies to use it, which can be problematic. We have treadle feeders (Grandpa's) but they take up far too much run space to use at the moment. We have so many sparrows because the parents stole feed for the chicks, so they all survived and are now feeding as well. There must be well over 20 eating and it will get worse over Winter because they will need more food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggshell Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 Yes, do let us know how you get on, Beantree. I hope it works - apart from anything else, it would be really entertaining to watch the chooks using the trigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Feel your pain Beantree, I have huge flocks of sparrows and starlings which guzzle away at my ladies food. Going thro feed at a rate I've never known before. Standard bird scaring deterrants dont seem to work either Will be interested to hear how you get on. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Get a cat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 We have two cats Cattails, but they are not allowed anywhere near the chickens for their own safety. They wouldn't want to be there anyway! Occasionally one cockerel catches a cheeky sparrow and gives it to his girls to eat, but that's not touching the problem. Think we are losing over 300 grammes of pellets per day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Wow! I have a very occasional blue tit in my garden en maybe one or two sparrows, but none are trying to get to the food of the girls. They did however cleaned out my grape vines completely, with flocks of 20 or so sparrows visiting at a time. To the horror of my chickens, because I have been keeping them away from the grapes as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Counted between 50 and 60 fat sparrows this morning. Fortunately the Trigger Happy Feeder part arrived today. I can see why they don't show a picture of it, because you would then be thinking hard about parting with £5. But as they quite rightly say at the beginning of their notes that comes with the trigger "When you first look at this item you could be excused for being less than impressed but don't be fooled by its simplicity. Simple ideas are often the best…….." I totally agree, so the 'proof is in the pudding'. Will try to get something made quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Does it look like this I bought two. I have enough feeders and I am happy with them. I thought I will use it when I get a broody as it releases more pellets per peck more than other feeders In fairness what can you buy for a fiver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I wouldn't mind a drinker that my girls couldn't kick the wood chips from the run in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I wouldn't mind a drinker that my girls couldn't kick the wood chips from the run in. Try nipple drinkers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Or a gravity drinker that you can hang in the run. I think Omlet need to re design their drinker. I only use mine as spares because they always get full of rubbish, and you can only put them so high, or the chooks can only reach the top of the water. Having said that if you place them near a perch, those that jump up can use them with no problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I use these. You do have to buy them from Australia, but I have found them very good Dine a Chook Is designed to stop birds swooping down on feed. The wet a chook keeps a steady flow of water and the water stays clean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Those both look like well designed and well made products Chickabee. Suppose they were rather expensive? Yes Mars, that's the thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 It was the postage that made them expensive, not as expensive as grandpas feeders though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Just to update. Finally made a unit up only to find that our feed pellets were so big diameter and irregular lengths the trigger hole kept jamming. So knowing that our pellets weren't the best anyway we changed them for a smaller and better brand. Then discovered that, although it works, the trigger is really too light and it won't return properly and still occasionally jams up. The end is a rather small target as well. So lead free solder wire has been wrapped around the shaft and a bottle cork added to the end with an angle cut at the top (otherwise the pellets bounce everywhere). Just struggling now to get the birds to use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Still struggling. Now opened the hole in the tub from the recommended 20mm to 21mm because sometimes the trigger wouldn't dispense anything when knocked. The suggested shallow tray underneath didn't work for us. Chester the cock weighs in at over 6Kg and kept standing on the rim, tipping the whole thing over and frightening everyone. We have now put a rubber car mat (Wilko's £1) underneath which works very well indeed. They have been left with it for two weeks and still can't grasp how to get the pellets out, despite being shown. I decided the only way to get their attention was if they were really hungry. That condition established I tried tying cherries to the trigger, but they were snatched from my hand before I could get them in place. So I've tried to fool them into thinking the feeder dispenses grain treats. At this stage only Minnie seems bright enough to work it out. Perhaps the rest will follow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Mine didn't understand my wild bird feeder either, untill one hen discovered it had grower pellets in, instead of layers. Then it was empty within days. Maybe you should fill it with a bit of corn for a few days. Once the others discover there are goodies coming out, they'll be much more interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Good idea CatTails. Problem there is that the hole size is now tuned to the feed. Grain needs a much smaller hole so I'd now have to change the container. To add, AT LAST after more encouragement with cherries Chester finally worked it out. Just need to make sure they are all using it and I haven't set it too high. Great that they eat every single piece off the mat and floor before hitting the trigger again so nothing left for the sparrows, which have now moved to other feeders!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 My eldest girl washes her greens in the water glug and her feet - I also find bits of horse bedding in there which shes kicked in. Suspect it adds to the flavour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 We now have one very smart and cheeky sparrow who stands near the feeder when the chickens are there and eats and bits dispensed that land in that direction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
