LIBERTY Feeder Management and Operation
LIBERTY® Feeding System with Electronic Sensor (ES)
36
General Operation of the LIBERTY Feeder
These recommendations are the guideline to aid producers with the use of the feeding sys-
tem.
With experience a feeding program will be developed to enhance the feeding systems perfor-
mance. Several factors such as feed content, type of birds, climate, lighting programs, and etc., may
dictate change from these recommendations.
The LIBERTY feeder has ALL-OUT™ FLOOD, which allows the feeder pan, to be filled with a high
level of feed for the brooding of young birds. Start young birds with the feeder line lowered so the feed
pans are resting on the floor and open the feed flood windows using the feed line winch. Although the
major weight of the feeder lines will be on the floor, do not remove all the weight from the suspension
system and allow the cables to become slack.
It is advisable to provide supplemental feed during the first few days for the young birds. This is espe-
cially true when partial house brooding is used (refer to Figure 1). Supplemental feeders, such as
the CHORE-TIME® E-Z START® Chick Feeder, provide extra feeding space and access to the feed.
With the feeders lowered to the floor and the feed flood windows open, the operation of the feeder will
allow a high level of feed to be placed into the feed pans making it easy for the birds to find feed,
adapt to the feeder, and begin to eat.
Do not operate the feeding system on automatic (full demand feed) when the feed windows are open
(cones raised). Chore-Time recommends having the feed windows full open for up to the first 14 days
for broilers and up to 21 days for turkeys. The feeders will need to be operated at least 2 times a day
for the first 5 days, and thereafter, 3 times a day or more as needed, while the windows are open. If it
is not possible to operate the feeder manually 1-3 times a day during the brood time (windows open),
then a time clock should be utilized to limit the number of times and length of time the feeder can
operate. Failure to do one of the above will create the possibility of an excessive high feed level in the
feed pans enabling the birds to waste feed.
DO NOT OPERATE THE FEEDING SYSTEM ON AUTOMATIC WHEN THE ALL-OUT™ FLOOD IS
BEING USED.
As the birds grow and become acclimated to the feeder pans, the feeder cones can be progressively
lowered to the grow-out position over a period of days to reduce the feed level in the feed pans.
Before lowering the feed cones, it is recommended to allow the birds to eat the feed level down below
the feed cone. This will ease the process of the feed cones being lowered properly.
For broilers
, once the feed cones have been lowered to the grow-out position, the suspension sys-
tem should be used to raise the feeder(s) line to the recommended pan height.
For turkeys,
many producers prefer to begin raising the feeder lines at approximately 2 weeks of age
prior to completely closing off the feed windows to the grow-up position. This method allows the bird
to have a high level of feed and reduces to ability of the birds to waste feed.
When the feeder is raised to just clear the litter, there may be a few places where the litter is lower
and the pans seem too high. Do not be concerned as the birds will level the litter and at this young
bird age, there will be sufficient feeder space.
The correct feeder pan height adjustment is the area where the bird’s neck meets its breast is
equal to the top edge of the feeder pan. #4 for turkeys for most applications.
The adjustment settings are easy to understand and change by rotating the grill cap to the selected
setting. The setting should be set to
position #2 for broilers.