Looking for a suitable feeder for your poultry might not be easy, regarding various demands based on the conditions your chickens live in.
You might need a warrior that protects from vermin, weather conditions and feed spoilage. Or you might just simply look for a hanging indoor feeder, that keeps space nice and tidy.
We’ve prepared a selection of the best products for you, which can help you find the perfect feeder meeting both yours and your poultry requirements.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Chicken Feeder
Size and Capacity
The size and capacity of the feeder should be appropriate for your flock size. If you have a large flock, you’ll need a larger feeder to accommodate them.
Durability
Quality matters when it comes to chicken feeders. Make sure the feeder is made from durable materials that will last through all types of weather conditions and can handle the wear and tear of regular use.
Vermin and rodents prevention
In addition to being durable and easy to maintain, look for a feeder with features that will help deter pests and rodents from getting into the feed. This could include mesh wire designs or sealed lids with locking mechanisms.
Set-up
Look for a feeder that has adjustable levels to accommodate different sizes of chickens, as well as an anti-spill design and ant-proofing features such as closed designs or locking mechanisms.
Price
Chicken feeders come in a wide range of prices. Consider how much you are willing to spend and look for a feeder that fits within your budget.
Weather proofness
When selecting the best chicken feeders, it’s essential to consider weather resistance as a key feature. This ensures the feeder’s durability and prevents the feed from being exposed to harmful elements, including rain, dust, and extreme temperatures.
Feeding system
A well-designed feeding system is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of a backyard poultry flock. It not only ensures the chickens have a consistent supply of food, but also helps to minimize waste and keeps pests at bay.
Spoilage
One of the key factors to consider when choosing a chicken feeder is its ability to prevent spoilage. Spoilage occurs when chicken feed is exposed to moisture, bacteria, and fungi, which can cause the feed to become moldy and unfit for consumption.
COMPARISON CHART
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Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder – Sturdy Galvanized Steel Poultry Feeders
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Kaylee Gravity Bin Feeder with Bracket
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Royal Rooster Chicken Poultry Feeder with Rain Cover
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Harris Farms Free Range Hanging Poultry Feeder
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Miller 9112 12lb. Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
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Chicken Feeder-Holds 20 Pounds-Pellets-Crumbles-Grain in Bucket
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Features
- Weatherproofness
- Gravity feeding
- Spoilage reduction
- Galvanized steel material
- Vermin and rodents protection
- 9kg feed capacity
- Anti-flick grill
- Safety side guards
- Training bolts
Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder – Sturdy Galvanised Steel Poultry Feeders is entitled to be in the first place on the list.
This galvanized shiny steel feeder attracts every chicken’s attention. By no means can you be passed by its impressive design and finish. It is commonly believed that practicality and stunning appearance do not come together. Well, the creators of Grandpa’s feeder have done their best job to contradict that.
WHAT WE LIKE
Grandpa’s high-end finish and weatherproof material immediately grabbed our attention. Unlike other feeders, we don’t talk here about plastic and fragility. Here we’ve got a sturdy chicken guard that faces weather conditions and protects the feed from unwelcome guests. Furthermore, it dispenses automatically, reducing spoilage, so you can relax on your couch as your poultry is feeding itself!
All thanks to the treadle the chickens step on and open the lid to feed. To teach them self-feeding, manufacturers provide us with 2 training bolts. The treadle is too heavy for squirrels, birds, and mice. If they impersonate your chickens, stealing feed and your money – let the Grandpa’s feeder say goodbye to them on your behalf.
This is a sloped-style feeder – chickens feed thanks to gravity. In other words, you can fill it up and enjoy your holiday while 6 of your poultry members stay supplied for 10 days! Plus, if you are looking for something that can turn your casual hen house into a galvanized steel palace – you couldn’t ask for better.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
The Grandpa’s Feeder price might frighten more than one chicken, but all its features are certainly worth it – especially when looking for a longer-lasting, weatherproof automatic feeder.
The feeder’s lid – although it won’t chop off chickens’ heads, it might scare bantams when being left on a treadle by their heavier fella.
Your poultry would need a while to adapt to the feeder – the training takes up to 3 weeks. By that time, the feed is vulnerable to vermin, rodents, and rain. But while people struggle to make their pets give a paw, you would have your chickens trained to feed themselves in no time!
PROS
- Weatherproofness
- Gravity feeding
- Capacity of 9kg feed – 10 days for 6 chickens
- Spoilage reduction
- Rodents and vermin protection
- High-end finish
- Treadle style feeder
CONS
- 3 weeks training time
- Price
- Heavy lid (potential problem if having baltams only)
Features
- Small size.
- Light, simple plastic design
- Gravity feeding.
- Spoilage reduction
- Assorted colours
- 1kg feed capacity
- Sifter floor
- Wire cage assembly
Easy to use, light, simple design, with a food-saving gravity system. If that’s what you are looking for, Kaylee Gravity Bin Feeder is the best budget option for you.
This feeder holds around 1kg of food; it’s designed to hang on a wire cage. That helps to keep it tidy and safe from vermin. Due to its narrow design, it won’t manage to feed a big chicken family at a time. But if your poultry is patient enough to stand in a queue – this feeder is a dream fulfiller.
What sets Kaylee’s feeder aside from the competition is the range of colors it comes in. So as a cherry on top – you can pick a fancy color for your chickens!
WHAT WE LIKE
Simplicity and compatibility make the Kaylee feeder stand out without a doubt. This feeder is the best quick-choice, low-budget option. Easy to assemble, use, and clean. Helping with saving feed and money thanks to its gravity system.
For someone not worrying about the rain, looking for a fair price, basic feeder for a few chickens – look no further.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
Although it’s a great feeder with many useful features, it requires a wire cage to be attached to as it’s designed to hang. It won’t meet waterproof requirements and will feed lots of chickens at the same time. Think it through before you sentence your flocks to fight for wet feed.
PROS
- Spoilage reduction
- Assorted with colours
- Well designed, considering a cheap price for all its features
- Can be attached anywhere using carabiner quick locks
- Space saving
- Built in sifter that keeps out dust and pallet
- Best budget option
CONS
- Made of plastic, making it vulnerable to damage and weather conditions
- Not a good choice for outside mounting – water can easily get to the feed
- Set-up – needs to be hang
- Size – too small to feed more than 5 chickens at a time
- Not chew proof – might cause issues with rodents
Features
- Easy cleaning
- Great food waste reduction
- Rain cover protection from rain
- Plastic body made of durable PCV and ABS plastics
- Space-saving long design
The Royal Rooster Chicken Poultry Feeder with Rain Cover stands like a chimney at 20 inches tall, but that’s nothing to do with the fact it’s got a well-deserved 3rd place on our list.
The best design for saving space and making your hen house looks nice and tidy. Waterproof with a rain cover, easy to clean, with a capacity of around 3kg. The only ‘’but’’ might be the price in comparison to Kaylee Gravity Bin Feeder; however, this feeder rules in reducing feed wastage. So even though you might spend more on it in the beginning, it will pay you back.
WHAT WE LIKE
Royal Rooster Chicken Poultry Feeder is a great choice for outdoor feeding. Feeder tray and rain cover are designed to make the feed clean and dry, however, most of this success it’s owned to its design to hang off the ground.
This feeder, versus others on the market wins at saving space and keeping your outdoor hen house clean and tidy.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
This feeder is a great minimalistic choice for outdoor feeding. Nevertheless, the price for its nonresistant plastic finish, and limited feeding capability, is a subject of big dispute.
PROS
- Feed waste reduction
- Rain cover keeps the feed dry and clean
- Can hold up to 3kg of feed
- UV resistant, made from durable PCV and ABS plastics
- Anti rodents and birds – thanks to feeder tray, rain cover and being up off the ground, the pests can’t see it and access
CONS
- Can feed no more than 6 chickens at the same time
- Price – relatively high
Features
- Made from BPA free plastic
- Heavy duty handling handle to assemble the feeder
- Easy to clean using soap and water
- Feed visibility for easy refill
- 2 capacity variants: 7 pounds and 10 pounds
For enthusiasts of fast, easy-filling feeders which can handle many flocks at a time, we’ve got something worth a lot of attention. Harris Farm Free Range Hanging Poultry Feeder is designed with a feed ring to prevent your chickens from scratching out the food so that you can forget about feed wastage. This product comes in two variants regarding its weight: 7 pounds and 10 pounds.
WHAT WE LIKE
Harris’ feeder shows off with its feeding capability, cleaning, and filling. All these features come in a hanging circular design for a decent price, which makes the feeder the most cost-effective on the market.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
The feeder has everything you need to feed up to 25 chickens and keep the place tidy, but no water protection for the feed. You might consider other choices if looking for an outdoor feeder.
Harris’ feeder isn’t based on a gravity system. If searching for something that helps save the feed, you should consider products on positions 1, 2, and 3 on our list.
PROS
- Can feed up to 25 flocks
- A feeding ring preventing from feed wastage
- Anti rodents and pests thanks to a hanging circular design tray
- Easy cleaning and filling
- Great price
CONS
- Can feed no more than 25 chickens at the same time
- Non waterproof
- Lack of gravity feeding system
Features
- Simple, durable finish
- Galvanised steel
- Saving floor space thanks to hanging design
- Holds approx 5,5kg of feed
- Protects from scratching and wasting feed
- Hanging handle provided
This product is a win when it comes to simplicity and durability. Made of galvanized steel, the same as the superior Grandpa’s feeder, it assures us it to serve well for many years.
WHAT WE LIKE
If you have no expectations or problems with feeding your chickens, this product will meet all your needs. Providing primitive, simple feeding for many years, it is easy to fill and clean, at the same time, made with great quality galvanized steel. That’s what Miller 9112 feeder stands for.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
Most likely, you won’t find any simpler feeder than Miller 9112. Easy to use, lasting years, good price. What’s not to like? Well, it might get very rusty since it’s not water-resistant.
PROS
- Sturdy, durable material
- Saving floor space thanks to hanging design
- Cheap price
CONS
- Weather exposure – can get rusty very easily
- No gravity feeding
- Not chew proof
Features
- Birds and rodents protection
- Weatherproof body
- Floor set-up or hanging
- Holds around 9,10kg of feed
- Design reducing feed wastage
This product is a clear winner in terms of simplicity. The Chicken Feeder Bucket is sure to keep all your birds fed thanks to its automatic gravity refilling system. The simple design features two feeding ports and can be hung in your coop.
WHAT WE LIKE
This product is the best choice for spoilage resistance and reducing feed wastage. There is no way your chickens would scratch out the feed. Rain covers and a well-designed water protection structure keeps the feed dry and safe from vermin.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
This feeder doesn’t attract attention with its look – it’s not convincing about durability, especially seeing its fragile plastic finish. Considering it won’t last long on the weather exposure, its price is a bit of an exaggeration.
PROS
- Great spoilage resistance
- Rodents and vermin protection
- Weatherproofness
- Significant feed wastage reduction
CONS
- Made of a low quality plastic material
- Price regarding it’s design and cheap finish
- Best for chickens 12 weeks or older (younger need to reach the tray)
In summary, Granpa’s automatic feeder is superior to any other feeder on the market, without a doubt. It rules in every aspect, from practicality to beautiful design and decent durability. No matter if you need an indoor or outdoor feeder – this product will meet both criteria and adapt to any condition through the years.
Royal Rooster is an impressive feeder. However, the Kaylee feeder earns a place above it due to a very attractive price for similar features.
Before you choose any product listed above, make sure it meets all the requirements given by the conditions your poultry lives in, as well as their and your needs, especially if you are looking for a solution that prevents wasting the feed and keeps your hen house tidy and healthy.
Other Recommendations
- Best Automatic Chicken Coop Door
- Best Automatic Chicken Feeders
- Best Heated Chicken Waterer
- Best Chicken Waterer
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