There are many problems and challenges that come with raising backyard chickens, a few of which cause some people to give up prematurely. One such problem is the issue of feeding your chickens in a healthy and safe way that will promote egg production. That’s why in this article, we take a look at the best chicken feeder to help you deal with that issue.
Quick Glance of Our Top 5 Chicken Feeders
Top 5 Best Chicken Feeder: Editor’s Pick
As we all know, chickens are extremely messy eaters. They flick and spill feed everywhere, attracting wild birds, rats, and other pests that can cause a wide range of problems for you and your feathery charges. The pests not only eat your chicken feed, but they also contaminate it and spread disease and parasites. This results in stressed chickens, and stressed chickens experience a drop in their egg production.
So use this article as your resource to help you determine the best way to feed your chickens to keep them – and you – healthy, safe and stress-free.
10 Best Chicken Feeder to Prevent Waste Reviews:
1. Grandpa’s Automatic Chicken Feeder
- BUILT TO LAST: Unlike other chicken...
- FEED ON DEMAND - Grandpa's Feeders...
- LARGE FEED CAPACITY: The Standard...
First on our list of chicken feeder reviews is this top-quality product from a brand with a proven, solid reputation for high-quality and affordable pricing. Grandpa’s has been selling its products all over the world for over two decades now and they remain as popular as ever thanks to their sturdy products and stellar customer service.
This automatic chicken feeder offers a protected means of feeding your chickens on demand. It creates less waste of feed and ultimately results in lower feeding costs. With this handy little device, you never again have to rush home in order to feed your backyard chickens.
This feeder’s clever design plays to a chicken’s natural feeding behavior and enables the birds to access their food whenever they are hungry. This helps to ensure that your chickens are happy – a condition which is essential for optimal laying. A lot of customers have stated that this feeder from Grandpa’s brand paid for itself within the first year just by being able to cut down the poultry food bill.
In addition to that, you will also save a lot of time and effort that is involved in feeding chickens daily. The sloped back design offers true gravity feeding since there is no food that will get stuck and go stale anywhere in the feeder.
Highlighted Features
- Extremely durable product that is built to last
- Designed to feed chickens and baby chick on demand
- Large feed capacity for convenience
- Best automatic chicken feeder for saving time
- Suitable for all chickens and pheasants
2. Miller Galvanized Hanging Feeder
- PROTECTS FEED - This feeder protects the...
- DURABLE STEEL BODY - This feeder has a...
- LONG LASTING - The hanging feeder is...
Made in the USA, this galvanized hanging poultry feeder is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid the inevitable mess that accompanies chicken feeding times. According to a lot of chicken farmers, this is an extremely durable product that will last for years to come.
If you are one of those people who prefer the galvanized feeder to plastic ones, you’ll be happy to know that this particular feeder is extremely rust-resistant and will feed up to eight chickens easily.
Although it comes without a lid, one can be purchased separately, or you can simply use a paper plate to cover the top if you please. The reason for this is that some chickens prefer to eat from the center as opposed to where they are supposed to eat from.
All you have to do to bring more feed out is to shake the container a little once a day and your chickens will have all the food they need to eat. Although not the best chicken feeder on our list, this one comes pretty close, particularly in terms of toughness and value for money. If you want a feeder that won’t break or rust, and will last as long as your chickens need it, then this is one you should consider.
Highlighted Features
- Made from galvanized steel for durability
- Hanging design helps to prevent unwanted pests
- Competitively priced for added value
- Manufactured in the United States
- Makes feeding easy and convenient
3. Rent A Coop Chicken Feeder
- One Long-Lasting Feeder for Your Flock:...
- Large Capacity: Ideal for Larger flocks,...
- Clean and Cost Effective: Innovative...
This new invention is specifically geared toward modern chicken owners. It virtually eliminates any mess during feeding time. You’ll find that once you start using this chicken feeder, you’ll be going through much less feed every month then you did previously.
The two holes make it possible for chickens to feed on either end without bullying each other. It dispenses easily whether you feed your chickens pellets or crumble. The design has been modified to make improvements according to suggestions from customers. This means that this brand certainly does care about their customers’ satisfaction.
If you keep chickens in the backyard and you want a relatively inexpensive and simple way of feeding them, this is the best chicken feeder to prevent waste while letting the chickens feed with ease. The new design of this plastic feeder that is based on feedback from users certainly deserves to be in our top three because of its ease of use and quality of manufacturing.
Highlighted Features
- Designed for chickens that are at least 12 weeks old
- Made from 100% food-grade, BPA-free plastic
- Holds 20 pounds of chicken feed easily
- No need to put the chicken feeder undercover
- Prevents wild birds, mice, and squirrels from getting in
4. Harris Farms Hanging Feeder
- Harris Farms Galvanized Hanging Poultry...
- Heavy-duty galvanized steel construction
- Rolled edges for safety and a convenient...
This heavy-duty galvanized feeder for free-range chickens features rolled edges to provide safety during feeding. It also has a convenient hanger or carry handle for easy transport and to hang the feeder if necessary.
Its design makes it ideal for all sizes of birds thanks to its three-point height adjustment feature. This feeder is also suitable for pheasants, game birds, and so on. From young chicks to adult chickens, you’ll be able to feed about 15 to 30 birds from this feeder.
Made from high-quality materials, you can be sure that you’ll be using this product for a very long time to come. Although it doesn’t come with a lid, it’s very easy to keep this feeder hanging under covered areas to protect the feed inside.
Unlike the plastic counterparts, this chicken feeder won’t crank in just a year or two of use. It’s undoubtedly the best chicken feeder design that you’ll get for the price, and if you are searching for a durable, convenient, and affordable solution, then this is one you should consider.
Highlighted Features
- Made from heavy-duty galvanized steel for durability
- Hanging poultry feeder holds 15 pounds of feed
- Feeds 15 to 30 birds of various sizes
- Spring-loaded clips allow for easy adjustment
- Designed to help minimize waste during feeding
5. Rainproof Outdoor Metallic Chicken Feeder
This is a unique type of chicken feeder that is not only rainproof but is also designed to be screwed into the wall if you so desire. It comes with a stand and holds up to 50 pounds of feed. It works great whether you use crumbles, pellets, grain or scratch.
With this chicken feeder, your birds will always be well-fed and happy, and mealtime will become a lot less stressful for you. Made from galvanized steel, this is a high-quality product that is sure to last you many decades to come.
It works great and there’s a lot less waste, which translates to massive savings for you over the long-term. Just remember to get it to the right height in order to minimize chicken feed waste.
This gravity feeder is convenient for you if you are extremely busy and have limited time to spend on feeding the chickens. This could be the best chicken feeder for you if you want to ensure that your feed is kept dry at all times and that your chickens always have food on hand with hardly any waste during mealtimes.
Highlighted Features
- High-quality design for durability and long-lasting use
- Conveniently holds up to 50 pounds of feed
- Works with grain, scratch, crumbles, or pellets
- Waterproof, designed to keep chicken feed dry
- Helps to keep waste to a minimum
6. Duncan’s Poultry Chicken Feeder
- Holds up to 55 LBS of Feed - Mash or...
- Hinged Gable Style Lid to Prevent...
- Made of Heavy Gauge Galvanized Metal
The size of this feeder means that you can empty the entire 50-pound bag into it, then forget about it until the feeder is empty. It’s designed to keep your chicken feed safe, secure, and dry inside while dispensing enough for your chickens to eat every day.
It has a hinged lid that remains open during filling to make your work a lot faster and easier. This feeder works perfectly with crumbles, mash, and pellets – although it will only hold 45 pounds of pellets as opposed to 55 pounds of crumble.
Manufactured using heavy-duty galvanized steel, this chicken feeder is fully assembled in the US and quality is assured. According to a lot of chicken feeder reviews, this product is one that all types of birds can use, including geese, ducks, and turkeys.
If you are searching for a gravity feeder that holds a lot of feed and helps to minimize wastage, this is one you should consider taking a look at. Since it’s all-metal, there are no plastic parts that will break over time. It doesn’t clog, and it won’t trust, which means that you will be feeding your chickens from it for a long time to come.
Highlighted Features
- Holds up to 55 pounds of feed
- Can be used for pellets, mash, crumbles, and so on
- Hinged Gable-style lid designed to prevent roosting
- Manufactured using high-quality galvanized metal
- Comes fully assembled for your convenience
7. Pest Off Chicken Feeder
- 100% Rat Proof: Wave goodbye to unwanted...
- Robust & Durable Construction: Designed...
- 100% Weather Proof: Come rain or shine,...
This amazing product eliminates the need for great poison and traps. As the name suggests, PestOff keeps all those rodents and wild birds away from your feed. It has a unique anti-spill design and patented pest-repelling technology which will allow you to easily feed your chickens to their heart’s content without wasting any of your valuable feed on unwanted pests.
This rat-proof design works in a simple way. Whenever a rat tries to get to the feed, the hatch moves downwards and blocks of its access to the grain. After the frustrated rat gives up and leaves, the hatch automatically goes back to its normal position, waiting for the next chicken to come and dine.
As you can see, this simple yet effective design ensures that the chickens get food, but not the rats. The ingenious device is ideal for anyone who is searching for the best chicken feeder design for hygienic repelling of rats and mice.
The anti-spill feature is great to help you save money on wasted feed. Also, this unit is extremely easy to fill and to clean and maintain. Mealtimes will now be a pleasure for both you and the chickens.
Highlighted Features
- Extremely simple to fill and use
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Hygienic rat-repelling design
- Weatherproof, anti-spill design
- Large capacity takes up to 8 pounds
8. Royal Rooster Feeder
- NO WASTE CHICKEN FEEDER & WATERER: Save...
- VERMIN PROOF CHICKEN FEEDER & TWIN...
- EASY TO USE: Easy to fill, just take the...
The Royal Rooster is one of the best chicken feeders on our list thanks to its unique design. Originally marketed in Australia, the products are now offered in the US and are gaining in popularity because they are designed to overcome a lot of issues typically experienced with traditional chicken feeders.
If you want to save time and money when feeding your flock, this is a feeder you need to consider. Among its many features, it reduces feed wastage thanks to its unique divisions which help to encourage the chickens from swiping grain onto the ground.
This ultimately saves you a lot of money in feed costs which adds up over time giving you significant savings. The money you save during the life of your chickens alone is enough to pay for this unit many times over. But, it also has other amazing features.
The feeder tray, as well as the rain cover, are designed to reduce feed that is lost to sparrows, squirrels, rodents, and other pests. There’s no reason why you should be feeding wild animals instead of your own chickens with this unit.
As it is located off the ground, this makes it a lot harder for smaller pests to access it. Also, the design helps to ensure that the feed remains clean and dry. No more finding poo, dirt, rain, or whatever else in the feeder. This means you can keep this unit inside or outside the coop and your feed will be safe either way.
The unit works well with most types of feed, such as grains and pellets, with the exception of loose feed like wheat and moist feed like crumbles or feed that is high in molasses. If you’re looking for the best chicken feeder with a slim design and UV-resistant properties that also works as a chicken waterer, this is one you should take a look at.
Highlighted Features
- You can hook the unit on to the mesh or wall
- European-made valve-operated drinker cups
- Rain cover to protect feed from the elements
- Helps to keep out wild birds and rodents
- Designed to reduce feed wastage
9. Little Giant Poultry Feeder
- VERSATILE USE - The hanging poultry...
- SAVE YOUR FEED - The feeder's...
- ADJUSTABLE FLOW - The plastic hanging...
This is an economy feeder which is designed for the modern hobbyist it has feed-save lips that help to minimize spillage. The adjustable levels of this chicken feeder make it ideal for different size chickens and the anti-scratch veins prevent crowding as well as feed waste.
If you are searching for a high-quality, affordable plastic chicken feeder, this is the product for you. The simple design makes it extremely easy to fill and use as well as to clean and take care of. You’ll be able to easily set up the feeder in no time. The 12-inch diameter base makes its ideal for feeding many birds at the same time.
The internal slope makes the easy to dispense the fields which means you don’t have to constantly worry about feeding the chickens throughout the day. The design also helps to reduce food loss so you save money on chicken feed. It does this by making it harder for the chickens to scratch at the food and throw it everywhere, as they so love to do!
The lip on the outside ring of this feeder helps to hold feed in when the chickens try to throw it out. So if your birds are constantly doing that, then this could be the right chicken feeder for your needs.
Highlighted Features
- Affordably priced economy feeder
- Great for hobbyists with few chickens
- Feed-save lips for minimizing spillage
- Comes with adjustable feed levels
- Anti-scratch vanes prevent crowding
10. Harris Farms Poultry Feeder
This free-range open-top 7-pound capacity feeder offers fast filling and easy cleaning. You can be sure that there will be a minimum waste of chicken feed when using this unit because it has a twist lock base that prevents scratch outs.
With this chicken feeder, you will be able to keep all your chickens fed while conserving the feed for less filling and even less cleaning.
Made by the well-known Harris Farms brand, this plastic free-range hanging poultry feeder is extremely easy to clean which means you’ll have a hygienic feeding spot for your chickens at all times. The open top makes it easy and convenient to fill the feed fast which so feeding time will always be a breeze.
It also has an innovative feed ring which helps to prevent the chickens from scratching the feed out. To assemble the device, all you have to do is simply engage the twist lock and it’s ready for use.
You will be able to feed between five and 15 chickens with this unit, depending on their size. At the price, you can be sure that you’re getting real value, particularly if you’re on a budget. This brand managed to make a high-quality product for a very affordable price that many chicken farmers are sure to appreciate.
Highlighted Features
- Takes up to 7 pounds of feed
- Open top designed for quick filling
- Innovative feed ring to prevent scratch outs
- Simple twist-lock assembly
- Feeds between five and 15 chickens easily
Buying Guide: Things to Consider When Select Chicken Feeder
There are a few important factors that you need to consider before you choose the best chicken feeder for your needs. We’ve listed some of them below, take a look at each and then decide which factors work best for the type of flock you have.
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Size of Flock
The size of your flock is actually one of the prerequisites which determine the type of feeder that you need to buy. For instance, if you only have a couple of chickens, and you’re only going to fill the chicken feeder once a day or once in two days, then your needs are obviously going to be different from someone who has a much larger flock.
In much the same way, if you need a feeder that can hold more than one day’s worth of chicken feed, then that’s a factor you have to take into consideration before making a choice.
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Age of Flock
For those who are just starting out and have baby chicks only, your feeders along with poultry waterer will need to be different than those of full-grown hens.
This is a particularly important factor to consider because some of the chicken feeders you’ll find on the market today are suitable only for one size of bird while others are designed to be suitable for mixed flocks. The latter type is great if you already have a mixed flock or you plan on expanding your flock in the near future.
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Type of Feeder
From the basic containers to the best automatic chicken feeder, you’ll find that there are different types to suit different needs. Decide whether you’re comfortable filling the feeder yourself every day (and sometimes multiple times a day, depending on your flock’s needs).
Alternatively, you may want a feeder that does all the work automatically leaving you free to concentrate on other tasks. Some feeders sit on the ground while others are hung somewhere for convenience and to prevent other critters from gaining access to your chickens’ food. Your needs will dictate the type of feeder you choose.
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Price
As with everything else, prices of chicken feeders vary according to the brand, the quality, and the type of material used in manufacturing the product. You will find prices that range from relatively inexpensive feeders made from plastic with simple designs that sit on the ground to complex, fully mechanized chicken feeders which measure out feed according to settings provided by you.
You have to decide which price point you’re comfortable with when making a choice of the right feeder for your chickens. Just remember, the simpler the design of your chosen chicken feeder, the less expensive it will be.
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Plastic or Steel
Although for the most part, manufacturers in the commercial poultry sector have scrapped metal feeders, it’s taking a while for the retail poultry supplies world to catch up. A lot of chicken keepers these days prefer non-porous, chemically-resistant, non-rusting plastics which make the job of feeding chickens a lot easier and cleaner.
With plastics having now become the standard as far as poultry equipment is concerned, it’s no surprise they make up a fair portion of the products on our list of the most popular chicken feeders on the market.
Some professional farmers and backyard chicken keepers prefer plastic poultry products for their cost-effective nature as well as their resistance to caustic solutions – something that’s is vital when it comes to the use of modern disinfectants and some acidic cleaning agents used to keep your flock’s eating utensils healthy.
Having said that, you’re still able to buy anything you want out there and if you prefer steel to plastic, you will definitely be able to find a chicken feeder to suit your needs on our review list.
How to Make a Chicken Feeder
If you’ve decided that you want to make a chick feeder yourself, you’ll be happy to hear that it’s quite a simple process. You’ll be able to create a chicken feeder that is easy to fill and makes it hard for chickens to spill the feed. It’ll also keep the feed safe from any non-chicken life forms as well as the elements.
Read on to discover how to create the best PVC chicken feeder that is simple and inexpensive using a length of PVC pipe and a small bucket.
Step 1: Cut a 2-inch section from the end of a 3 foot PVC pipe. From the end of the PVC pipe, mark 2 inches and use a power saw or a hand saw to cut halfway through the pipe. Make two more cuts from the end of the pipe going inward to remove the 2-inch wide section.
Step 2: Glue the pipe to the inside of a small bucket using a strong adhesive or liquid cement on the uncut side at the back of the pipe. Once inserted into the bucket, press the back of the pipe to the bucket and hold it in position for about a minute to allow the adhesive to bond. The bucket should be about 6 inches in height to allow your chickens to reach the food easily.
Step 3: Lay the chicken feeder on the side of the ground and let the glue dry overnight. Just remember that liquid cement begins to dry very quickly which means it’s extremely important to press the pipe and bucket together straight away for best results.
After your handy contraption is dry, you now have the best DIY chicken feeder and you can then pour feed in the top, allowing it to run down the pipe for the chickens to feed freely.
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Frequently Ask Questions About Chicken Feeders
Q: What Type of Chicken Feeder Is Best?
A: As previously stated, when it comes to choosing the right chicken feeder for your needs, there are many factors that are going to affect your decision. There isn’t one type that is necessarily better than the other, but your chickens may have certain needs that are better met by one type of feeder than another.
Just don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the massive range of poultry accessories available on the market. Simply use our buying guide to determine what your needs are before choosing the best chicken feeder from our list of the 10 most popular options on the market right now.
Q: How Many Feeders Does a Chicken Need?
A: The answer to this question depends on the type of chickens that you have. Because different chickens will eat varying amounts of feed, you may have to get different feeders for your flock. This also depends on how many pounds of food your feeder can hold, as well as how often you feed your chickens. Such considerations are important in determining how many feeders you’re going to need for your chickens.
Q: What is The Best Waterer For Chickens?
A: As with chicken feeders, there are many different types of chicken waterers to be found. If you’re raising backyard chickens, you may have to choose between a small waterer or a larger one that lasts longer between refills.
Some waterers are designed to prevent mold or algae from growing while other automatic feeders have automatic features to save you time by directly connecting to poultry watering cups from the mains pressure water. This means that your choice of the best waterer comes down to your individual situation as well as a personal preference as you need a normal feeder or an automatic feeder.
Q: How Do I Keep Mice Out of my Chicken Feeder?
A: There are many ways you can employ to keep rats from eating your chickens’ food. First of all, always clean up spilled feed before night falls. Store the grain away from the chicken coop and keep it in an airtight container, such as a feed drum that has a firm lid. Without the feeders (normal or treadle feeder) or water source near the coop, the mice will be discouraged from going there.
Yet another effective method would be to use bait traps away from the chickens to catch the mice that attempt to come for any spilled feed. You could also invest in the best treadle chicken feeder which helps to keep chicken feed secure from mice.
Q: Do Chickens Need Food And Water at Night?
A: During the times that they are awake, chickens need constant access to food and water, thanks to their extremely high metabolism. However, after they roost at night, the birds are asleep which means they won’t get up to drink or eat.
You don’t need to leave food or water near them, and in fact, this will only serve to attract mice and rats to the chicken coop. Once it goes dark, your chickens are sound asleep and they won’t think about food or drink again until they wake in the morning and come down from the roost.
Final Verdict
Now you have all the information required to help you make a better-informed decision about the type of feeder you need to get for your chickens. This article covers all the important points regarding the factors to look for in the ideal chicken feeder, as well as a list of the most popular options available to anyone raising chickens.
So whether you have two chickens or twenty, use this article as your resource to help you choose the best chicken feeder that both you and your chickens will absolutely love.