Advice on chicken feeders

[BulletProofMum]

I got my chickens about a month ago. All is going well apart fromt he feeder. The food goes everywhere, there are rats in the area, adn it fills with water when it rains. Most annoying though is that I can only refill it by emptying it first as you need to tipp the whole thing upside down.

Can anyone recommend ones as there are a numbr fo different styles available. I am unable to hang one.

Thanks!

I have <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1254&bih=574&tbm=isch&tbnid=r6_aUyITuA_u4M:&imgrefurl=www.petplanet.co.uk/category.asp%3Fdept_id%3D942&docid=lZZnOdgsp62MLM&imgurl=npi.petplanet.co.uk/shop_dev/assets/new_product_images/vital/55319.jpg&w=240&h=240&ei=YYmMT7iVLM-28QPqr83rDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=124&vpy=201&dur=785&hovh=192&hovw=192&tx=123&ty=101&sig=100303393195881200395&page=1&tbnh=164&tbnw=160&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">one like this and it's rubbish - the girls can take it apart and scatter the food everywhere. The best are the Eglu ones but no good if you don't have an Eglu.

That's the one I have. Tis shite indeed. No eglu, maybe some kind soul will help us!

I have this one which is off the floor on a slab with bricks under although it could be hung up. It's great as it's covered from the rain and heavy enough that they don't knock it over. You just lift off the black cover to refill it, so no need to tip upside down.

You can buy a stand for the Eglu feeders which I think is what I'll do. They are by far the best feeder/ drink thing I've found.

Thanks - are the Eglu feeders rain-proof?

We made a feeder out of a piece of guttering which we drilled holes in and cable tied to the run which is fantastic as they cant kick it over and the water drains through it. Once a week I blast it with the hose. I gave up with shop bought feeders.

The Eglu ones are not covered but I always have covered areas for the chickens to shelter under anyway. I might try the guttering one, great idea, thank you

There are a few things that want changing here:
a) The feeder should be inside the coop. Not only will that stop the rain getting in (NB food should not be allowed to get wet, as it will go off and potentially cause illness v. quickly), it will stop the rats / mice / other vermin getting at it overnight, and allow the hens to eat as soon as they wake up in the mornings.
b) The feeder should be kept off the ground, a the same height as the hen's backs. As you can't do it by hanging, you should try using a breezeblock / similar. This will stop them 'billing out' i.e. flicking out food with their beaks.
c) There are feeders out there that you can fill from the top; have a look on ebay for them. This is one good example, and the little barriers in the bit where they eat from will also help prevent billing out. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3KG-CHICKEN-FEEDER-HENS-POULTRY-/221007244670?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item33750eed7e