Food hopper vs top feeder

So I am in the process of building a rack for mice and ASFs and can't find the info I want. I had originally built two food hoppers but on most racks people seem to use a top feeding method instead. My concern about top feeding is the 1/2 wire cloth and my mice escaping if the food gets a little low. What would you recommend and why? My initial thoughts are to use a top feeder area for the ASFs with 1/2 inch cloth and the rest of the screen be 1/4 inch, and for the mice make it all 1/4 inch and use the food hoppers, but I still would like to hear about which is preferred.

For mice and ASF you want to use 1/4 inch hardware cloth for rats you want to use 1/2 hardware cloth.

If you have a rack there is no need for food hoppers as you will be using the top screen (required for ventilation) to feed your animals.

They can eat from the 1/4 cloth still? For some reason I thought they couldn't, which is why I was thinking I had to use 1/2 inch cloth for the feeder part of the bin. I have a bunch of mazuri lab blocks that I am using right now to feed with.

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Originally Posted by Naginii

They can eat from the 1/4 cloth still? For some reason I thought they couldn't, which is why I was thinking I had to use 1/2 inch cloth for the feeder part of the bin. I have a bunch of mazuri lab blocks that I am using right now to feed with.

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Yes they can.

Or make a cover for the food side. I built a frame with 1/4 wire hinged over the 1/2 food area. It's always fun seeing the small ASF trying to reach the hasp holding the frame. Into the grow out bin they go.