Chicken Food Feeders

If you're a poultry owner, you may feed your poultry at irregular time intervals because of a busy schedule. To reduce wasted feed and avoid frequent feeding by hand, use nonmechanized feeders to feed your chickens once a day or automatic feeders that allow you to go days without having to refill a feeder.

  1. Trough Feeders

    • Trough feeders sit on the ground and are made out of metal or plastic. They typically feature a sloped design and come with a grating or grill that prevents chickens from roosting on the feeder and contaminating grain with their feces. The grate allows chickens to crane their necks through the spaces in the grill to eat the feed near the bottom edge of the trough.

    Hanging Feeders

    • Hanging feeders work well to prevent spillage of feed because chickens can't climb on the top of the feeder. They hang from the ceiling of a coop or chicken enclosure via a wire or rope. Hang these feeders at a height halfway down the neck of the chickens so that they can bend their neck to access feed but can't jump at the feeder and spill grain.

    PVC Feeders

    • Create a chicken feeder with PVC piping. Glue a cap onto the bottom of a 2-inch to 4-inch diameter pipe, glue a small tray around the bottom of the pipe and then place a removable cap on top to place more feed into the pipe. The height of the pipe depends upon how much feed you wish to store. To mount your chicken feeder, bury the pipe in the ground a foot deep. To allow chickens access to feed, drill small holes in the pipe six inches above the ground.

    Automatic Feeders

    • Automatic feeders cost more than other types due to their mechanized components and will require you to replace the batteries, but they save you more time than other feeders. Consider this option if you're frequently away from your chicken flock due to work or other obligations. Automatic feeders work like a gumball machine. They contain a reservoir for the storing of excess feed, a tray for dispensed feed and a turning mechanism that scoops out a regular amount of feed at timed intervals.