What Is the Best Poultry Feeder for My Flock?
Published 5th August 2026
When choosing a poultry feeder, focus on waste reduction, pest protection and capacity/size to match your flock.
The right design saves you time and keeps your flock healthy.
Things to Consider
Flock Size & Capacity
- Match the size of the feeder to how many birds you have.
- Large flocks need bigger capacity or multiple feeders so all birds can eat at once.
- Small flocks do better with compact feeders so food stays fresh.
Feed Type & Waste Prevention
- Check if your feed is mash, pellets, or crumbles.
- Choose a design with a anti-scratch ring or grill to stop chickens from kicking feed onto the ground.
- Keep feed dry and safe from rain and pests like mice or wild birds.
- Easy clean surfaces
Feeder Style & Placement
- Trough feeders: Easy to clean, but chickens can step in them.
- Hangable tube feeders: Keep feed cleaner and off the ground.
- Treadle (gravity) feeders: Open only when a chicken steps on a pedal, which saves food from pests.
Automatic Treadle Feeders
Usually a metal box or hopper that open only when a chicken steps on a footplate, sealing shut when they step off.
PROS:
- Stops mice, rats and wild sparrows from eating or pooping in the feed.
- Keeps grain dry during rain particularly when placed under cover.
- Cuts down dramatically on spilled and wasted feed
CONS:
- Costs more money to buy.
- Requires a short training period for your flock to trust the moving lid.
- Too heavy or scary for very young chicks or tiny bantams or birds with low IQ unless carefully calibrated
Select from our range of automatic poultry feeders
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Hanging Gravity & Tube Feeders
These suspended plastic or metal cylinders dispense feed into a bottom tray automatically as birds eat.
PROS:
- Very cheap and easy to set up.
- Keeps feed off the floor so it stays cleaner than open pans.
- Easy for all ages of full-sized birds to access at the same time
CONS:
- Open trays invite mice, rats, and wild birds for a free meal.
- Chickens love to scratch and flick feed out onto the ground, causing high waste.
- Rain can make feed wet the if used outdoors without a proper cover.
Select from our range of hanging gravity & tube poultry feeders
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Open Trough & Dish Feeders (not recommended!)
Simple long troughs or flat bowls that sit directly on the ground or a low block.
PROS:
- No cost If recycling old pans and trays
- Keeps feed off the floor so it stays cleaner than open pans.
- Easy for all ages of full-sized birds to access at the same time
CONS:
- Highest rate of feed contamination from dirt, bedding and chicken droppings.
- Rodents have open access 24/7
- Maximum feed spillage
- Pecking order issues - top ranking hens keep lower ranking hens away
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TOP SELLERS Automatic Step on and Treadle Feeders & the Omlet No Waste Feeder
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