We've been feeding our chickens for four years on various pieces of wood with trays of all sorts. It was better than throwing it directly onto the ground, which would partially end up going to waste after the chickens had buried it with all their incessant scratching. I'd eyed those expensive, pricy metal feeders at the feed and animal stores for years, but either didn't have the money or didn't know how or where I'd hang or mount them.
On another brain wave, I'd thought about reusing my gallon milk jugs as bird houses- maybe hanging the handle in back on a suspended line between two trees and cutting a hole in front for bird entry. Well, before I acted upon that idea, an epiphany of sorts happened in my mind and I suddenly imagined that "hole" in the front of the jug being wide enough for a chicken to stick its head in and gobble up some feed resting in the bottom of the jug. That's when I grabbed an empty jug, a sharp knife and started transforming that jug into a chicken feeder! And wee-doggie, it worked!
Here's what you do, and I'll attach a picture to aid with the instructions. Hope it works for you and your chickens too!
Home-made Milk Jug Chicken Feeder
STEP ONE: First, poke sharp knife or scissors into front of jug and cut a square opening leaving enough band on the bottom to fill the jug substantially with feed.
STEP TWO: Second, slice through or cut the bottom part of jug handle in the back of jug creating a handle to slip over a fence wire and hang on fence. I even thought I may paint my jug for fun with colorful outdoor paint, but haven't gotten to that point yet. Have been too excited to just get them out there and use them!
STEP THREE: Hang jug to the desired height on your chicken fence (or on a wire attached to strung across chicken wire) at just the right height for your chickens to comfortably stick their neck in and feed.
STEP FOUR: Have a hoot watching your chickens go to town pecking with their head inside the opening! They absolutely love these feeders and compete for them so be sure to make enough for the whole flock to get their share! ( I have about ten for my 22 chickens, one per two or three chickens is good)
