Feeding chickens...will a deer feeder work?

[Huntindad]

I am building a chicken coop and will have some chickens … probably next week. About 8 or so hens.

I have an extra deer feeder here at the house and was thinking bout putting chicken feed/cracked corn in it and setting it to go off around 10:00 in the mornings.

Anyone ever done this? Does it work? Also…how much feed should be thrown each day? Any ball park figures on amount of feed put out?
Thanx,

[bigbad243]

I would not feed them cracked corn if it's for egg production. Really not anything in corn that is going to assist in egg production. Layer feed is like protein and if they don't snatched it up on a wet ground, it is wasted.

[Huntindad]

Hmmm...ok. thought i could mix it all together. Guess not
They will mostly be free range

[bigbad243]

You can feed it, but in my opinion you are wasting money feeding them cracked corn. Get milo or something like that instead. I only feed mine layer feed, and free range them.

[Filletem]

I used to have one set up when I had chickens, I fed hen scratch out of it, I just moved the timer up to get the tightest gap I could get. I think I fed like 8 seconds just have to play with the time to see how much feed your throwing. Yes it does work, the chickens would run to it didnt take them long to learn.

[bigmike]

Stick with laying pellets

[east tx hoghunt]

Don't over think it! Which is what I usually do. Just get a chicken feeder and keep it full of feed so that the hens can eat what they need. You will be way better of in the long run.

[TMEC]

I just use a self feed dog feeder with door locked open with screw. It is under a roof to keep water out of it. They do like to pick it up off the ground though so I sprinkle some around the run for them as well.

[Huntindad]

they will be in the run for a while, so I can get them used to where "home" is. I may get a chicken feeder (buy or homemade)or just throw feed in there each day... not sure which

[ACook]

I built several feeders out of PVC pipe with a "J" in the bottom. I also throw them some scratch and oyster shell in the run a few times a week. Kinda like a little treat but I keep Layer Pellets in the feeders all the time.

[systemnt]

the pea gravel will kill them.

[toastie]

I keep a gravity feeder like the previous poster described made from 4" PVC

[Huntindad]

think I will be building a couple PVC feeders

[GatorBait]

http://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=23919

Here you go, seems legit enough

[Huntindad]

thanx, I'll take a look.