Finding the best way to feed your chickens is something every chicken farmer must think about. Even if you choose to allow your chickens to free-range, they will still need the nutritional benefits of feed added to their diet. There are many options out there for chicken feeders and this can be confusing, especially if you are new to chicken farming.
The 7 Best Chicken Feeders
- Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder (Our Top Pick)
- LITTLE GIANT Miller 12lbs Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
- Little Giant Large Steel Poultry Feeder
- Ware Manufacturing Chicken Feeder Troughs
- PawHut Automatic Chicken Feeder
- Harris Farms Plastic Hanging Poultry Feeder
- PECk-O-MATIC Chicken Feeder
Our Top Pick for the Best Chicken Feeder
Our top pick for the best chicken feeder is the Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder.
Although the initial expense is a bit high, the amount of money saved from loss and waste of feed far outweigh the cost. Once your chickens are trained to use it, you don’t need to worry about rushing home to feed them.
Another plus is that, if you have to go away for a weekend, you don’t have to worry about the chickens running out of food. As long as you don’t have baby chicks, we recommend this feeder.
Check the price on AmazonWhat to Consider When Choosing a Chicken Feeder?
There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing the right chicken feeder for your flock.
One of the prerequisites that will determine which type of feeder you will need will be the size of your flock. If you have only 2-3 chickens and are planning on filling the feeder every day or two, then your feeder needs will be different than someone who has a larger flock or has need of a feeder that can hold more than a days’ worth of food.
Another thing to consider is the age of your flock.
If you are either just starting out and have only baby chicks, your chicken feeder needs may be different than if you have a flock of full-grown hens. Some of the chicken feeders offered out there are only good for chicks, while others are good for only grown birds. There are also some that are good for mixed flocks, which is great if you are expanding your flock and have a combination of both youngsters and adults.
Prices on chicken feeders range from the relatively inexpensive plastic feeder that sits on the ground to the fully mechanized feeders that measure out the feed based on the settings you provide.
There are many types of feeders out there, from a basic container that will need to be filled daily to automatic feeders that only need to be filled occasionally, depending on the size of your flock. There are feeders that hang and feeders that sit on the ground; feeders that are simple to assemble and feeders that almost take an engineer to put together.
The choice you make in purchasing a feeder requires careful consideration, and we took a look at 7 different types of feeders and considered the pros and cons of each.
They are listed below along with the one we like the best.
7 Best Chicken Feeders – Reviews
1. Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder
This feeder by Grandpa’s Feeders holds 20lbs of food, which is enough for 4-6 chickens for approximately one week. This is a great choice if you work late and don’t want the birds going hungry or if you frequently travel. It is not recommended for use in a mixed flock. Use only with full-grown chickens as the baby chicks can get caught when the bigger birds step off.
The feeder is noisy when in operation and as such, may require some getting used to by the chickens. Although there will most likely be a training period involved, most chickens will take to the feeder fairly rapidly.
Pros
- Eliminates the need to check the feed every day
- Keeps rodents and wild birds out of food; no more stolen food
- Prevents spilled feed, thereby reducing feed costs
- Only needs to refill every 7-10 days for 4-6 birds
- Prevents the birds from fouling in their food
Cons
- Requires training
- Edges are sharp
- Food has a tendency to not come down on its own
- Not waterproof
- Chickens may not use it because of the noise made when in operation
2. LITTLE GIANT Miller 12lbs Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
This is a simple hanging style feeder from LITTLE GIANT that holds 12lbs (approximately 20 cups) of feed. It can feed up to 12 adults for 10-14 days. It does not come with a lid. It’s made of galvanized metal, so it won’t rust and is a great way to feed your chickens without the feeder sitting on the ground. This would be a great choice for a mixed flock of adults and baby chickens.
This feeder does not do a very good job of keeping rodents out, and you will most likely have to shake the feeder daily in order to cause the food to move into the trough.
Pros
- Simple to assemble
- Won’t rust
- Keeps feed off the ground
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Does not come with a lid
- Cannot be used outside without a lid
- Must shake the feeder in order to fill the troughs
- Will not keep rodents out of feed
3. Little Giant Large Steel Poultry Feeder
This feeder from LITTLE GIANT holds up to 25lbs of food and can be either wall-mounted or used as a stand-alone feeder. It is made of galvanized metal and resists rust. The feed saver grid is designed to reduce food waste by preventing the chickens from kicking the food out of the feeder and also to keep them from soiling in their food.
This feeder is not for use with baby chicks; it is for use with an adult flock only.
Pros
- Holds a large amount of food
- Keeps the rain out of feed
- Reduces food waste
- Keeps chickens from soiling the food
Cons
- Not for use with chicks; adult birds only
- Chickens can kick the food out of the feeder
4. Ware Manufacturing Chicken Feeder Troughs
These two simple and inexpensive Chicken Feeder Troughs from Ware Manufacturing are made of galvanized metal, which means the feeder won’t rust. The feeders are specially designed with wire over the top, which prevents the chickens from scratching their food all over the ground and reduces food wastage.
Easy to maintain, the feeder troughs are perfect for the farmer with a small flock that intends to feed the birds daily as it holds only a small amount of feed.
Although the feeders do have a tendency to tip over, and they will not keep rodents and other animals out of the feed, you can wall-mount them.
Pros
- Wire top prevents chickens from scratching the food all over, which reduces waste
- Made of galvanized metal and will not rust
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- Holds a small amount of food
- Tips over easily
- Will not keep rodents and other animals out of feed
5. PawHut Automatic Chicken Feeder
The PawHut Automatic Chicken Feeder is a great space-saving feeder for any chicken coop. It comes with a tightly-fitting waterproof lid, which means your chicken’s food will stay clean, dry, and safe from wild birds, rats, or squirrels. A small ceiling above the feed outlet also helps to keep the feed dry. As the feeder is made of galvanized steel, it won’t rust when it rains or snows.
This automatic fast-filling feeder has a large 13-liter capacity so it is perfect for mixed flocks and feeds up to 4 chickens at the same time. It comes with an installation kit and you can mount the feeder inside or outside a wood or wire chicken coop.
Pros
- Wall-mounted space-saving design
- Waterproof lid
- Galvanized steel will not rust
- Great for a mixed flock and feeds up to 4 chickens at the same time
Cons
- Expensive
- Small rodents can still get in via the feed outlet
6. Harris Farms Plastic Hanging Poultry Feeder
This is a simple, inexpensive, 10lbs Harris Farms hanging capacity poultry feeder made from plastic. It does not come with a lid, but one can be purchased separately. This feeder will feed up to 10-25 chickens and its plastic construction makes it easy to see when the feeder needs to be refilled.
The tray has a tendency to separate from the top fairly easily which will cause the feed to spill. The feeder can be either hung or left on the ground and is very easy to fill and keep clean. Because the feed tray is shallow, the chickens will have the inclination to scatter the feed when eating.
Pros
- Simple to assemble
- Easy to fill and clean
- Can either be hung or left on the ground
- Available in 3 different sizes
Cons
- Does not come with a lid to keep moisture and other animals out
- Tray separates from the top very easily, causing feed spill and waste
- Trough is shallow which allows the chickens to scatter the feed
7. PECk-O-MATIC Chicken Feeder
This is an innovative, simple to use PECk-O-MATIC Chicken Feeder that will discourage rodents and other animals from stealing your expensive feed. It provides good protection from the rain and other wet elements and keeps food from being wasted by the chickens.
The feeder has everything you need to set up your own 5-gallon bucket (purchased separately), including 6 regulator disks that are used based on the size of the feed being given. You will need to train your chickens to use this type of feeder, and if you live in Alaska, Puerto Rico, or Hawaii, the manufacturer will not ship this item.
Pros
- Food is not wasted
- Protection from rain and rodents
- Reduces the need to replenish feed as often
Cons
- Five-gallon bucket not included
- Must train chickens to use it
- May not work with pellet type of feed
- Manufacturer will not ship to Alaska, Puerto Rico or Hawaii
Our Top Pick for the Best Chicken Feeder
Our top pick for the best chicken feeder is the Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder.
Although the initial expense is a bit high, the amount of money saved from loss and waste of feed far outweigh the cost. Once your chickens are trained to use it, you don’t need to worry about rushing home to feed them.
Another plus is that, if you have to go away for a weekend, you don’t have to worry about the chickens running out of food. As long as you don’t have baby chicks, we recommend this feeder.
Check the price on Amazon
