6 Best Feeders To Keep Chickens From Scattering Feed Old Farmers Swear By
Stop feed waste and deter pests. Discover 6 farmer-approved feeders, from treadle to no-waste designs, that save money and keep your coop cleaner.
You toss a scoop of feed into a standard trough and watch half of it get scratched onto the ground within minutes. That scattered feed isn’t just a mess; it’s a hole in your wallet and an open invitation for problems. Choosing the right feeder isn’t about fancy gadgets—it’s one of the most fundamental decisions you’ll make for the health and efficiency of your flock.
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Why Wasted Chicken Feed Costs You More Than Money
Wasted feed is the most obvious drain on your budget. When chickens bill out or scratch 20% of their feed onto the ground, you’re essentially throwing away one out of every five bags you buy. Over a year, that adds up to a significant, and entirely preventable, expense.
But the real cost goes far beyond the price of a bag of layer pellets. That spilled grain is a dinner bell for every pest in a five-mile radius. Mice, rats, and squirrels will quickly discover this reliable food source, bringing with them the risk of disease and creating a sanitation nightmare in your coop. Wild birds will also flock to the free meal, potentially introducing mites, lice, and avian illnesses to your flock.
Ultimately, a poor feeder steals your time. You’ll spend more of it cleaning up caked, moldy feed from the coop floor and trying to mitigate the inevitable pest problems. A good feeder system gives you back that time, simplifies your chores, and protects your flock from the secondary problems that wasted feed creates.
Miller Galvanized Feeder: A Timeless Classic
You’ve seen this feeder a hundred times for a reason. The long, metal trough made of galvanized steel is a workhorse that has served farmers for generations. Its simple, durable design is its greatest strength. There are no complex parts to break, and the heavy-duty steel stands up to years of abuse from beaks and weather.
The key features that reduce waste are the individual feeding holes and the spinning reel on top. The holes prevent a chicken from sweeping its beak side-to-side and slinging feed everywhere. The reel is a brilliantly simple innovation that stops birds from perching on the feeder and contaminating their food with droppings.
This feeder isn’t perfect, however. It’s completely open to rodents, so it’s not a great choice if you have heavy pest pressure. It also must be kept under a solid roof, as any rain will turn the feed into a soggy, moldy mess. Think of it as a reliable, no-frills tool that does its job well when placed and managed correctly.
Grandpa’s Feeders: The Ultimate Pest-Proof Pick
If your primary battle is with rodents and wild birds stealing feed, the treadle feeder is your solution. The concept is genius: the feeder has a lid that only opens when a chicken stands on an attached platform, or "treadle." When the bird steps off, the lid closes, sealing the feed away.
This design is a game-changer for your feed bill and coop biosecurity. It almost completely eliminates feed loss to pests. Rats, mice, and sparrows are too light to operate the mechanism, meaning your feed is reserved exclusively for your chickens. The enclosed design also keeps the feed perfectly dry and clean, no matter the weather.
The trade-offs are cost and training. Grandpa’s Feeders and similar models carry a high upfront price tag, but most owners find it pays for itself in feed savings within a year. You’ll also need to spend a week or two training your flock to use it, which involves propping the lid open and gradually lowering it until they get the hang of it. For a truly "set it and forget it" pest-proof system, nothing else comes close.
RentACoop T-Feeder: Best for DIY-Style Setups
For the homesteader who likes to customize, a port-style feeder offers incredible flexibility. The RentACoop T-Feeder isn’t a complete feeder but a set of durable plastic ports you install into your own container. This allows you to turn any food-grade bucket, barrel, or tote into a high-capacity, no-waste feeder.
The design itself is what minimizes waste. Chickens have to stick their heads into the port to eat, which makes it nearly impossible for them to flick and scatter the feed. This simple change can dramatically reduce the amount of grain that ends up on the floor. You can build a feeder that holds five pounds or fifty, depending on the size of your flock and how often you want to refill it.
The main consideration is that you have to build it yourself, which requires a drill and a hole saw. While the ports prevent chickens from wasting feed, the container itself isn’t inherently pest-proof. You’ll still need a lid for your bucket and a plan to keep rodents out, but for a low-cost, highly effective DIY solution, feeder ports are hard to beat.
Little Giant Trough Feeder for Waste Reduction
The Little Giant Trough Feeder looks a lot like the classic galvanized models but with one crucial improvement: a snap-on plastic grid. This grid creates individual feeding compartments that are even more effective at preventing waste than simple holes.
The tight spacing of the grid forces a chicken to eat with an up-and-down motion. It physically blocks them from the side-to-side head sweep they use to rake feed out of a trough. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference in keeping feed in the feeder where it belongs. These are often made of durable plastic, making them lightweight and exceptionally easy to clean.
Like other trough feeders, this one is not pest-proof and must be protected from rain. The plastic construction may not last as long as galvanized steel under intense UV exposure, but its waste-reducing performance and ease of use make it a fantastic and affordable option for small to medium-sized flocks.
Harris Farms Hanging Feeder for Easy Cleaning
Hanging feeders are popular for good reason. Elevating the feed source keeps it clean from dirt, bedding, and droppings that get scratched around on the coop floor. This simple act of suspension improves hygiene and can make it more difficult for some pests, like mice, to access.
The classic red-and-white plastic hanging feeders are inexpensive, hold a decent amount of feed, and are incredibly easy to take down and hose out. The twist-lock base makes refilling simple, and the design works well for flocks of various sizes.
However, they can also be one of the worst offenders for feed spillage if not managed properly. The secret is hanging it at the correct height. The lip of the feeder tray should be level with the height of your chickens’ backs. If it’s too low, they will easily rake feed out onto the floor. Set it correctly, and it’s a clean, efficient feeding solution.
OverEZ Gravity Feeder: Ideal for Large Flocks
If you have a large flock or want to reduce daily chores, a high-capacity gravity feeder is the answer. The OverEZ feeder is designed to hold an entire 50-pound bag of feed, allowing you to go for a week or more between refills. The feed is fully enclosed, protecting it from rain and droppings.
The design is simple and effective. As chickens eat from the three covered ports at the bottom, gravity pulls more feed down from the reservoir, ensuring a constant supply. This is a massive time-saver for busy homesteaders or anyone who needs to leave their flock for a weekend.
While it keeps feed dry and clean, it’s not completely rodent-proof. A determined rat can still learn to get at the ports. But for sheer capacity and convenience, especially for flocks of 15 or more birds, a large gravity feeder streamlines your entire operation and ensures your chickens never run out of food.
Feeder Placement Tips to Maximize Feed Savings
Even the best feeder in the world will fail if you put it in the wrong place. The most important rule is to place your feeder under cover. Whether it’s inside the coop or under a covered area in the run, keeping feed dry is non-negotiable. Wet feed quickly grows mold, which can be toxic to your flock.
Adjust the feeder to the right height. For troughs and hanging feeders, the feeding edge should be level with the birds’ backs. This makes it uncomfortable for them to scratch with their feet and difficult to rake out with their beaks. You may need to place trough feeders on cinder blocks to achieve the proper height.
Finally, think about location. Never place a feeder directly underneath a roosting bar, as it will be covered in droppings by morning. It’s also wise to keep the feeder and waterer a few feet apart. This prevents chickens from dripping water into the feed, which creates a caked-on, wasted mess.
Choosing a feeder isn’t just another chore—it’s an investment in your flock’s health, your budget, and your own time. By matching the right feeder design to your specific challenges, whether it’s pests, weather, or messy birds, you create a more resilient and efficient system that pays for itself in saved feed and peace of mind.
