Chicken feeding is one joyous thing to do. But, it can be tiring when you have to keep on refilling their feeder now and then.
Nevertheless, you can save yourself from this agony when you get yourself one of the best chicken feeders that can hold the right amount of feeds to last for some time.
But, how will you know the best chicken feeder that can endure the scratching, pecking and the droppings from the chickens and yet save you from frequent refills?
There are different kinds of chicken feeders in the market. The designs of some of the feeders in the market contribute to wastage by spilling or scratching and scattering from the chickens. But, you don’t have to worry yourself how to make your selection.
Listed are reviews of the selected best chicken feeders that you need to start with while in your search. The buying guide that follows will also guide you to make the best selection.
Top 6 Chicken Feeders
|
Name |
Chicken Feed (lb) |
Material |
Editor’s Ratings |
|
Harris Farms 1000297 |
7 |
Plastic |
4.4* |
|
RentACoop2 |
20 |
100% Food Grade Plastic |
4.4* |
|
Grandpa’s |
40 |
Galvanized Steel |
4.4* |
|
Miller 9112 |
12 |
Galvanized Steel |
3.9* |
|
Little Giant Miller 957772 |
25 |
Galvanized Steel |
4.3* |
|
Little Giant Plastic Flip Top |
N/A |
Polypropylene Plastic |
4.1* |
#1 (Editor’s Choice)Harris Farms 1000297 Hanging Poultry Feeder
Harris feeder is a 7-pounds capacity which can feed 5 – 15 chickens. It is well designed with an open top to make it easy to refill. The 7-pound feed with 15 chickens can last three days.
The chicken feeder has feed rings which allow your chickens to feed comfortably without scratching out their feed and therefore saving you from wastage.
The chicken feeder is made merely from plastic. It has a simple locking design to prevent it from detaching and spilling the feed. Since the tray is shallow, you can hang the feed to prevent chickens from scattering the feed with their beaks.
Due to its simple design using plastic, the feeder is then inexpensive making it the best chicken feeder for low budget.
PROS
- Inexpensive
- Simple twist-lock to assemble
- Can be hanged to prevent scattering the feed
- Transparent therefore easy to monitor the feed
- Has feed rings to avoid scratching the feed
CONS
- You buy lid separately
- The twist lock design does not hold firmly risking feed spillage
#2 RentACoop 2 Feed Ports Chicken Feeder
RentACoop 2 Feed Ports chicken feeder is ideal for adult chickens and not for small chicks as they can crawl inside the feeder through the feed ports. Nevertheless, the feed ports are not big enough to allow the rodents or other pests getting to the feed.
You can place the feeder anywhere in the chicken coop or yard, and the feed will stay dry even when it rains. The feeder’s lead has a design that is difficult for the chickens to roost on it and therefore keeping it clean always.
The RentACoop feeder is made from 100 percent food grade plastic which has been certified as BPA free. It holds 20 pounds of chicken feed which can feed eight chickens for a week or 4 chickens for 14 days. Since the chickens cannot scatter or scratch the feed, you will save on feeds.
The feeder doesn’t need any assembling. All you need to do is open the top to fill in feeds for the chickens.
PROS
- The feed ports are small to prevent rodents, and other pets get into the feed
- The feeder’s design prevents chickens from roosting on it
- The design prevents chickens scratching and scattering feeds
- The feeder holds 20 pounds of chicken feed enough to go for some days
- No assembling needed
- Made from safe food grade plastic
CONS
- You need to train chickens to use it
#3 Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder
The chicken feeder which is made from galvanized steel is sturdy and durable to endure many years of chicken feeding. The extremes of weather cannot damage Grandpa’s feeder because of its construction.
It has a large feeding capacity to hold 40 pounds of chicken feed with a large automatic feeder that can feed approximately 12 chickens to last for ten days. It is a standard size that can allow 12 regular chickens.
However, it is not a recommended feeder if you need to mix chicks and adult chick as the adult chickens can lock the chicks in the feeder accidentally as the feed.
The feeder is cleverly designed to provide feed for the chicken on demand. This way, the feeder design keeps away chicken feed pests such as rats, wild birds, and mice from getting to the feeds. The chickens will happily access their feed when they get hungry.
If you work late, this is the best chicken feeder to have around as you don’t have to bother whether the chickens are fed or not. All you need is to keep an eye for other eventualities but not on their feeding.
However, you will have to train your chickens on how to use the feeder. But, this is a one-time procedure, and after that, they will get used to it.
PROS
- Keeps chicken feed pests away from the feed
- Provides freedom from daily refills
- Reduces chicken feeds expenses by preventing spillage
- Once a week is enough to refill the feed for 4 – 6 birds
CONS
- Not suitable for small chicks
- Requires training the chickens
#4 Miller 9112 12lb Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
Miller 9112 is made from galvanized metal has a simple design which will not complicate the chickens once you introduce it to them. It is large enough to hold 12 pounds of chicken feed.
It comes with a handle to enable hanging. When you hang up the feeder, you will prevent the chickens from scratching and scattering the feed. Again hanging provides the chickens with enough room to run around without interference.
The galvanized metal prevents it from rusting. It does not matter whether you intend to mix the chicks with the adult chickens so long as you hang the feeder at their level of reach. However, it does not come with a lid and therefore risking the feed to the rodents.
Somehow the feeder does not release the feed to the trough efficiently. You will, therefore, keep on monitoring and sometimes shaking it up to enable the feed to get to the trough.
PROS
- Does not need assembling
- Hanging to avoid feeds wastage
- Hanging creates more room for the chickens
- The galvanized metal does not rust
CONS
- No lid and therefore feeds exposed to rodent
- Feeds failing to fill up the trough needing shaking and monitoring
#5 Miller 957772 Little Giant High Capacity Poultry Steel Feeder, 25lb
This feeder can contain about 25 pounds of chicken feed. The grid in the feeder prevents the chickens from getting inside the feeder to scratch and scatter the feed.
You can mount the feeder on the wall or elevate slight up to prevent them from climbing on top of it. Installing it on the wall will save running space for the chickens and also will prevent spillage and wastage of feed.
The feeder is made from solid galvanized metal which gives it durability. Again the size of this feeder is a plus to you since it will save you frequent refills depending on the number of chickens you have.
You don’t have to worry if you have the feeder somewhere outside at the back of your yard. The feeder is designed to prevent the rain from getting in the feed. Even if the chickens manage to roost on the feeder, their droppings cannot get in their feed because the top is elongated enough than the feeding tray.
PROS
- The grid prevents spillage and wastage
- 25lb feed capacity is enough to last days before the another refill
- Prevents chickens littering the feed with their droppings
- Prevents rain out of the feed
- Sturdy and durable
CONS
- Opens from back to front
#6 Little Giant Plastic Flip Top Poultry Feeder
Plastic Flip Top is best for beginner chicks. When the little chicks are learning to feed you should entice them to feed on good feeds and a bright colored feeder such as Plastic Flip Top which is in bright color. It comes several different bright colors to make your choice.
With the 28 feeding ports, you are sure to feed enough number of your chicks. The feeder is versatile to use it on any age of your chickens. It is, therefore, suitable for poultry mix feeding.
The fill top makes it easy to fill the feed and also to clean it when necessary. The high-density polypropylene plastic material used on this feeder and the snap-in hinge design ensures durability.
If you have a big flock of chickens, you can choose different colors for the feeds to entice them to feed.
PROS
- Easy to clean
- Bright color for attraction
- Easy to fill
- Durability
- Accommodate many chickens
- Can feed any age of chickens
CONS
- A ground-feeder makes it a natural perch for the chickens
Buyer’s Guide: What to consider when buying a chicken feeder
There are various factors you need to think of when you are out there and intend to buy a chicken feeder. This guide has highlighted some of the important ones to simplify your selection.
Size
The first and essential thing you need to have in mind while looking around for your chicken feeder is the size of your poultry. Again, you need to consider how often you need to refill their feed.
For instance, if you have five chickens and you can only get time to refill their feeds every three days, then you might have to go for a 10 pounds chicken feeder.
Chicken Age
Age matters when choosing a chicken feeder. Some of the feeders are for adult chickens and not for chicks. And, vice versa some chick feeders are not suitable for grown chickens.
However, there are suitable feeders that can serve all ages of poultry whether chicks or adult chickens. If your flock is mixed up, then consider going for a age-mixed feeder.
Be prudent enough to know which fits your kind of poultry.
Safety
Safety is another factor you should consider when looking for a chicken feeder. Some feeders can easily topple when your chickens are feeding and harm or trap them in.
Others could have designs or rough finishing such as sharp edges that could harm your poultry. Be careful to check the feeders out for any possible harm.
Price
Who wouldn’t want to know the price tag whenever buying something? Yes, this factor is essential when doing your rounds selecting your best chicken feeder.
If the chicken feeder has achieved the factors as mentioned above and the price tag is comfortable with you, then you should go for it.
Final Verdict
After going through the reviews and the buying guide you definitely have formed an idea of what is most suitable for your chickens. Nevertheless, we shall further simplify your search by giving you our verdict.
The top best chicken feeder after through consideration using features, customer’s reviews and ratings is Harris Farms 1000297. If you don’t agree with this selection, then you probably have your best pick and factors leading to that particular choice.
Would you mind sharing with us?
You can share with us on the comments section here below.