Raising chickens isn’t a science – it is more of an art. Sure, there are some best practices that you need to be following, and as far as the stuff about keeping things clean goes there are steps you should follow, but beyond that there is a lot more to do for chicken farmers. We have to take care of a lot of things to make sure that everything happens the right way.
Feeders are a necessary tool for farmers, and they are the best way of ensuring that all your chickens are happy and healthy. However, it isn’t just as simple as buying some feeders, filling them with feed, and then leaving it be.
Feeder And Water Temperature
Here is something which a lot of people never take into consideration – the temperature of what your chickens are eating and drinking. And no, we aren’t talking about running the feed in the microwave a bit so it is more appetising. If you have noticed that your chickens aren’t drinking enough water, the temperature of the water container may be to blame. If the summer is blazing then the water may be too hot for the chickens to drink comfortably. On the other hand, if the winters are too harsh then the water may be too cold for them to drink.
If it is too cold outside, try using a feeder made of a thick material, or you can cover the feeder with something that helps the water stay away from the cold. The same is true for winters. The best bet is to refill the water a couple of times a day with fresh water instead of just filling the container for the whole day. Sure, it takes a bit more work but the results will be great.
Feeder – Inside Or Out?
Here is a question which many chicken farmers have, and there is no one right answer. Should you place your feeder inside or outside? Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so at the end of the day the best bet is to look at your surroundings and act accordingly. Keeping the feeder out means you have more room inside to keep the chickens, and it also means that you can easily clean and refill the feeder without getting yourself dirty. However, if you have a lot of wild birds nearby they will become a nuisance.
Keeping the feeder inside is better, but another problem pops up: if you leave the feeder inside, you are basically asking for predators to come inside where your chickens are, because they are attracted to the feed and the water. So, at the end of the day, what matters the most is what type of pests you are more worried about. If there are a lot of wild birds around you, keep it inside. If you are more worried about vermin and predators, then keep it outside.
