Best Automatic Hen Feeders
The surge of chicken products in the market is a pointer that many people are rearing chicken. One of the largest challenges to chicken farmers is getting the right feeding equipment. Chicken are renowned for their habit of scratching through the feed during feeding. Consequently, this results to wastage. It could also lead to infections passed through bacteria stuck on their feet.
In order to get the ideal chicken feeder, it is advisable to go through the products in the market. However, the internet is awash with misleading information which targets novice farmer. This article reviews some of the best automatic hen feeders in the market. In addition, it also gives a buying guide. Here is a summary of chicken feeders in the market. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
- Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder
- Little Giant High Capacity Poultry Feeder
- RentACoop Chicken Feeder
- Miller 9112 Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
- Ware Manufacturing Chicken Feeder Trough
- PECk-O-MATIC Demand Bird Feeder Kit
- Wise Cage Poultry Feeder
- Ware Little Red Hen Feeder
- MILLER Little Giant High Capacity Poultry Feeder
- Wooden Treadle Chicken Feeder
1. Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder
Grandpa’s Feeder is renowned for its ability to minimize food waste and also maintain hygiene. If you are a large scale chicken farmer, you should consider using Grandpa’s Feeder since it can accommodate 20lbs., enough to feed up to 6 chicken for more than 8 days after filling it with food. The design of the feeder makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor uses, since it is resistant to rain and sunshine.
Another unique feature with this feeder is that it protects the chicken from the risk of feeding from the sides. Feeding on the sides could lead to the chicken having their heads stuck which might lead to suffocation. To mitigate this risk, the front-feeders are mounted in a fixed place to prevent it from getting off the treadle. Using this feeder protects the chicken food from wild birds, especially if you feed the chicken outdoors.
The feeder is also fitted with side guards to prevent food wastage. The chicken cannot scratch away the food when feeding. The brand has been in the market for more than 20 years without significant complaints.
Key features
- Large storage which can feed six chicken for ten days after a single refill.
- Designed to protect the food from wild birds and rodents.
- Fixed front feeder to protect the chicken from getting stuck while feeding.
2. Little Giant High Capacity Poultry Feeder
If you are looking for a durable and economical feeder, Little Giant is the solution. The material used to manufacture it is galvanized which makes it resistant to rusting. The material is resistant to water, which is used to moisten the chicken food. The feeder can be mounted on a wall or used as stand-alone.
The feeder can hold up to 25lbs. of chicken food. The large storage means that a single refill of the feeder can be used by ten chickens for one week. The feeder is fitted with a feed saver grid which prevents the chicken from kicking the food while eating. This also minimizes the rate of soiling the food while eating.
The feeder is installed with a shade which prevents the food from exposure to rain or sunshine which could make feeding difficult and also affect the quality of the food. The feeder is ideal for adult chicken. Therefore, people who rear chicks should look for alternative feeders which have minimal risks.
Key features
- Large storage capacity, suitable for people who feed chicken after a long time.
- Feed saver grid to minimize food spillage and consequent wastage.
- Galvanized material to prevent wastage.
3. RentACoop Chicken Feeder
The RentACoop is revered for its ability to save on the chicken feed. To achieve this, the feeder is fitted with a tube (L-shaped) on the sides of the feeder from which the chicken feed. The tube prevents the chicken from kicking the food from the feeder. The tube is also used to keep the food dry and safe from rainwater which can make it uncomfortable to the chicken during the feeding process.
The feeder is also safe for the chicken. First, the design prevents the chicken from getting their heads stuck while feeding. Second, it is made using a food-grade plastic, free from BPA, which means the chicken cannot get contaminated when feeding. The design allows one chicken at a time and this prevents spillage which occurs due to scramble for the food during feeding. The feeder can accommodate up to 20lbs. which is enough to feed the chicken for two weeks.
Key features
- L-shaped tube on the sides of the bucket to minimize wastage
- Food-grade plastic which is free from BPA which makes it safe for the chicken.
- Large storage to feed the chicken for a long time.
4. Miller 9112 Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
If you don’t like the feeder sitting on the ground, you can use Miller 9112. You can hang the feeder on the roofing area using the handle according to your preferred height. This also ensures the chicken feed comfortably. Raising the feeder off the ground also prevents spilling of the feed. When the feeder is raised above the ground, it becomes hard for harmful bacteria to contaminate the food.
The feeder is made using a galvanized material which minimizes rusting and slows the ageing process. The feeder can hold up to 12lbs., which is enough to feed 10 chicken for 12 days. The design also makes the feeder suitable for both the adult and young chickens during feeding. You can put the feeder in place with easy since the materials are easily available. The feeder is also ideal for people operating on shoestring budget.
Key features
- Galvanized material to minimize the rate of rusting.
- Raised above the rate of spillage and subsequent rusting.
- Medium storage (12lbs.) to feed adult hens for a significant period.
5. Ware Manufacturing Chicken Feeder Trough
This is a simple feeding technique suitable for small scale farmers with a small space. The only advancement of Ware trough from the traditional one are the wire scratch guard which protect the feed from the chicken. The guard prevents the chicken from accessing the inside of the trough since they end up scratching the food.
The feeder is slightly raised above the ground to minimize the probability of parasites getting into the food. It is also lightweight, which means you can move it from one area to another with ease. The materials used to make the trough are readily available and relatively affordable, which makes the final product inexpensive. The design of the trough is easy to operate and therefore the chicken do not struggle to feed from it.
Key features
- Easy to set up due to availability and affordability of materials
- Wire scratch guard to prevent the chicken from spilling the feed.
- Lightweight, making it easily portable.
6. PECk-O-MATIC Demand Bird Feeder Kit
It is a sophisticated feeder designed to give optimal results. The PECk-O-MATIC is designed with a shade to provide the shade for protecting the feed from water and direct sunrays which could adversely affect the quality of the food and also cause discomfort. This also prevents the chicken from wasting the food during feeding.
The feeder is designed in a sophisticated manner which only releases the food when the chicken are feeding. This prevents wild birds and rodents from sneaking to feed on it. Since the chicken are trained on how to use this feeder, it becomes hard for the intruders to eat the food.
The bucket can store large amount of feed which is released on demand. This means after you fill the bucket with food, it can serve 10 chicken for two weeks without feeling them again. Thus, you avoid the hassle of replenishing the food often since a single refill takes a lot of time to exhaust.
Key features
- Improvised protection against adverse weather conditions and intruders.
- Large capacity and therefore no need to refill it often.
- Designed to reduce wastage.
7. Wise Cage Poultry Feeder
The main feature which gives this feeder an edge over others is that it can be accessed from two sides. The feeder has a rain hood, which protect the dry food from moisture and rain water. It also features rolled lip which protects the food from spillage through scratching.
The feeder is medium in size, which means it can only accommodate 1olbs. Of food. However, you can buy an extender to make the total size 20lbs. The design makes the feeder suitable for birds that are enclosed. It is lightweight, which means you can carry it from one place to another easily.
You can fill the feeder from the outside, after mounting it on the inside. Alternatively, you can mount on a fence, especially if you rear free-range chicken. Therefore, you don’t need to struggle filling food in the feeder.
Key features
- Easy accessibility when filling it with food and for the chicken too.
- Lightweight, making it easily portable.
- Easy to install.
8. Ware Little Red Hen Feeder
The Ware is designed for people operating on a tight budget. However, it contains almost all the features required of automatic feeders. First, it has a hooded lid which protects the food from moisture. Besides, it has fold out legs which raise it off the ground and as a result prevent bacteria from getting into the feed. It also contains a scratch guard which prevents spillage of the food.
The feeder is lightweight, which means you can carry it around easily. This also makes it suitable for both indoors and outdoors. The feeder is suitable for small scale chicken farmers since it can hold only 2.5lbs. of food. It is also easy to use, which means the hens do not struggle to use it.
Key features
- Fold out legs to raise it above the ground and minimize wastage.
- Lightweight to make it suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
- Scratch guard to prevent wastage of the feed.
9. MILLER Little Giant High Capacity Poultry Feeder
The Giant Miller comes in two packs, which increases the size of storage. Each pack is 25lbs which makes the total size 50lbs. The feeder is flexible and you can fit on wall in the coop. The feeder can sustain more than 20 chicken for two weeks which makes it suitable for large scale chicken farmers.
The feeder is made using a galvanized material. This makes it sturdy and resistant to rusting and normal ageing. You can hang the feeder off the ground which prevents the chicken from spilling the feed. It also prevents pests from getting into the feed. The grills regulate the flow of food which subsequently reduce wastage.
Key features
- 2-pack of feeders to feed as many chicken for a long time as possible.
- Galvanized material to prevent rusting.
- A chute design which reduces the flow of food.
10. Wooden Treadle Chicken Feeder
If you love the country live, the Wooden Treadle should be on your bucket list of feeders for your hens. It is made using hard wood which is treated to prevent soaking and subsequent rotting. You don’t have to worry about setting it up, since it comes fully assembled. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor uses, since it is resistant to agents of wear and tear.
Key features
- Made using hardwood making it suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
- Fully assembled for ease of use.
- Furnished for cute look.
Buyer’s guide
Before buying an automatic feeder, it is advisable to consider the following:
Ø Size of the flock
If your flock is large, you need to get a big feeder. Similarly, you will be required to get a large feeder especially if you have a large flock and don’t feed them regularly. Small feeders might cause the hens to suffocate.
Ø Cost
The cost of feeders refers to both the price tag and maintenance costs. The cost of buying galvanized materials is high. However, they do not break frequently, which reduces their cost in the long run. On the other hand, feeders that are made using plastic have a low price tag. However, they break down easily, which increases the overall cost in the long run.
Ø Safety
The safety of chicken is paramount and therefore you should only get a feeder that is safe to use. Before buying the feeder, you should ensure that it cannot collapse on the chicken. The grills used to regulate flow of the food should not choke the chicken during feeding. The material used to make the feeder should also be resistant to rusting and contain zero contaminants for the health of the hens. Youi should also ensure that the feeder protects the chicken against rodents
Quick tips
The list above has reviewed some of the best automatic feeders in the market. Please note that there is no perfect product as discussed. When choosing a feeder, you should consider the safety, cost, and the features. This would help you to get the most reliable feeder in the market. The list is comprehensive and covers most of the requirements for chicken rearing. Therefore, choose the product that meets most of your needs.