ELEVATED FEEDING STATION
A new addition to the chicken farm is a new idea that we found online, an elevated feeding station. The purpose of this unit is to allow for a platform that the poultry can feed without the worry of being on a dirty ground, or worrying about other critters having access to the feed. Also the feeders in this feeding station are a simple homemade hopper type of feeder that allows for a large amount of feed to be be held in standby, automatically dispensed via gravity as the birds consume the feed.
The station is simple, made from a pallet, some pressure treated 2x4's and some corrugated steel roofing. A simple ramp is made from 2x4's and plywood. The station is 6' high at its peak and about 4' wide on either side. The platform is about 2' off the ground. A secondary benefit of this is when the birds feed from the feeders, they will inevitably drop feed on the ground under the platform, allowing other birds to gather underneath to feed without having to be on the platform itself.
The station is simple, made from a pallet, some pressure treated 2x4's and some corrugated steel roofing. A simple ramp is made from 2x4's and plywood. The station is 6' high at its peak and about 4' wide on either side. The platform is about 2' off the ground. A secondary benefit of this is when the birds feed from the feeders, they will inevitably drop feed on the ground under the platform, allowing other birds to gather underneath to feed without having to be on the platform itself.
Shot of overall feeding station, note ramp and rear slant to roof to allow rain runoff to flow to the back. Note two feeders mounted to rear.
The feeders are made from PVC pipe, utilizing reducer bushings to step down the size to a more manageable size for the feed dispenser where excess feed will be unable to flow out too fast. The hoppers are made from 3" PVC pipe approximately 3' long, with a reducer bushing stepping down to 2" with a 90 degree elbow, a short piece of 2" pipe and a 45 degree elbow that serves as the "dispenser" where the birds can peck their feed from. We did try two 90 degree elbows but noted that the feed did not flow far enough forward for the birds to reach, so with the 45 elbows, the birds are able to reach the feed as it flows out from the hoppers. The tops of the hoppers are capped off with what's called test caps, simple plastic caps that look like bowl lids that fit the inner diameter of the PVC pipe nicely. The overall feeders are secured to a horizontally mounted 2x4 at the back of the feeder using metal straps secured with wood screws.
Shot of PVC pipe feeders, note metal straps securing feeders, note elbows and reducer bushings and noticeable mess of feed in front of feeders.
In keeping with helping the layman be able to achieve self reliance, here are some products that may help you in your endeavors with poultry raising.
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