DIY Chicken Feeders

Chickens are messy eaters. If given the opportunity, they̵7;ll jump into their feed dish and scratch at the food, scattering it all over the ground. Although they might still eat some of that scattered food, a large majority will go to waste. Open feeders are easy to fill, but dirt and moisture get in and ruin the feed. Prevent wasting chicken feed by building a hanging feeder that keeps feed clean and dry and stops the chickens from tossing it everywhere.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-gallon food-grade bucket with lid
  • Razor knife
  • Drill
  • 1/8-inch drill bit
  • Shallow metal pan with 2-inch-tall sides
  • Hammer or mallet
  • 12-gauge galvanized ceiling wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Pliers
  • Chicken feed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the lid from a 2-gallon food-grade bucket, and set it aside.

    • 2

      Cut out the bottom of the bucket with the razor knife, leaving about a 1/4-inch lip for stability.

    • 3

      Drill four holes 1/2 inch above the bottom of the bucket spaced evenly around the bucket at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o̵7;clock. Set bucket aside.

    • 4

      Turn a shallow metal pan upside down. Pound the center of the underside of the pan carefully with a hammer or mallet, making a deep indentation. When turned right side up, the pan̵7;s middle should be about as high as the sides.

    • 5

      Drill four holes just under the lip of the metal pan spaced evenly around the pan at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o̵7;clock, matching the holes in the bucket.

    • 6

      Cut two pieces of wire with wire cutter 2 inches longer than the diameter of the metal pan.

    • 7

      Set the plastic bucket into the middle of the pan, centering the open bottom of the bucket over the hump in the middle of the pan and lining up the holes in the sides of the pan with the holes in the sides of the bucket.

    • 8

      Set the plastic bucket into the middle of the pan, centering the open bottom of the bucket over the hump in the middle of the pan and lining up the holes in the sides of the pan with the holes in the sides of the bucket.

    • 9

      Thread one piece of wire through the hole in the pan and then through the matching hole in the bucket. Slide the wire through the bucket to the opposite hole. Thread the wire through the hole in the bucket and the matching hole in the pan. Turn down the ends of the wire with pliers. Turn the feeder one quarter of a turn, and thread the remaining piece of wire through the remaining holes in the pan and bucket, turning down about an inch of wire on either side.

    • 10

      Fill the feeder with chicken feed. Replace the lid, and hang the feeder in the chicken coop.