posted 14 years ago
I just got my first chickens (3 hens and a rooster) and I also have 2 new sheep. I am trying to figure out what feeders to use to keep sheep out of the chicken's feed.
My set-up is the chickens have a small penned area in my barn to sleep where they can come and go through a chicken door. There is a fenced barnyard right behind the barn. Then 3 gates are installed to lead out to different paddocks of pasture for sheep and chickens to graze.
I was advised not to keep chicken feeders in barn where chickens go in at night because it will attract mice and the area isn't that big. So I keep feeders in the barnyard. However, sheep come in this yard as well. I am planning to milk them on a milking stanchion sitting there.
The feeder I bought is galvanized metal and it looks a bit like a top hat. I am wondering why there is no lid on it covering the top. The water feeder (which is similar) has a lid that fits over the center pipe where you keep the water.
I would appreciate any ideas for chicken feeders where sheep can't get in it. Also, so far the chickens have not gone out in the pasture at all. They are perfectly content in the barnyard with their chicken feed and food scraps! I want them to forage...
Beth