6 Best Hanging Tube Feeders For Easy Clean That Prevent Mold and Mess
Discover the top 6 hanging tube feeders. Their easy-clean designs prevent mold and spilled seed, ensuring a healthy, tidy station for your backyard birds.
We’ve all seen it: a flock of chickens flinging feed out of a ground trough with wild abandon. More of it ends up in the mud and muck than in their bellies, creating a soupy, wasted mess. A good hanging tube feeder solves this problem, saving you money on feed and, more importantly, saving you the headache of cleaning up spoiled grain. It’s one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your coop for a healthier flock and a saner you.
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Why Hanging Tube Feeders Reduce Waste and Mold
The biggest enemies of chicken feed are moisture and mess. Hanging tube feeders tackle both head-on by using gravity and elevation to your advantage. By suspending the feeder, you lift the feed source off the ground, immediately preventing chickens from scratching it out or kicking bedding and droppings into their food supply.
This elevation is the first line of defense against mold. When feed sits on damp ground or gets mixed with wet bedding, it becomes a perfect breeding ground for mycotoxins, which can be devastating to a flock’s health. A hanging feeder keeps the feed contained, dry, and clean.
Furthermore, the tube design itself minimizes waste. Chickens must stick their heads into a port or a small trough to eat, which makes it physically difficult for them to "rake" feed sideways with their beaks. This simple design change can cut your feed bill significantly over time, as you’re no longer feeding the local sparrows and the compost pile.
RentACoop T-Feeder: Top for No-Waste Feeding
If your primary goal is to eliminate feed waste, the RentACoop T-Feeder is hard to beat. Its design is brilliantly simple. Instead of an open trough, it uses 90-degree PVC elbows as feeding ports, forcing chickens to put their heads inside to eat. This completely stops them from flicking and spilling grain.
Made from food-grade, UV-resistant PVC, this feeder won’t rust or degrade in the sun, and it’s incredibly easy to clean. You can just hose it down or wipe it out without worrying about hidden corners where mold can grow. The smooth, non-porous surface gives bacteria nowhere to hide.
The only real tradeoff is the small learning curve for your flock. Some birds take a day or two to figure out the ports, but once they do, the feed savings are immediate and substantial. For the hobby farmer trying to make every dollar count, this level of efficiency is a game-changer.
Harris Farms Hanging Feeder: Durable Metal Build
For those who prioritize durability and rodent resistance, the Harris Farms hanging feeder is a classic workhorse. Constructed from heavy-duty galvanized steel, it can withstand pecking, bumping, and the determined efforts of rats or squirrels far better than most plastic models. It’s a long-term investment in your coop hardware.
The design features rolled edges on the trough to prevent injuries and a tapered body that helps feed flow consistently, preventing clogs or "bridging." This reliability means you can fill it and trust that your flock will have access to food without constant monitoring. The metal construction also holds up to years of sun and weather exposure without becoming brittle.
Be mindful that metal has its own considerations. It can get hot in direct, intense sunlight, and while galvanized, scratches or dents can eventually lead to rust points over many years. However, for sheer toughness and a classic farm aesthetic, its longevity is a major selling point.
Royal Rooster Feeder: Rain-Proof for Outdoor Runs
If your feeder will be exposed to the elements, the Royal Rooster feeder is designed specifically for the challenge. Its standout feature is an integrated rain cover and a deep, hooded feeding port. This combination does an excellent job of keeping rain and runoff from ever reaching the feed, making it ideal for open-air runs.
This isn’t just a minor feature; it’s a critical one for preventing mold. A single unexpected downpour can ruin a full feeder of grain, forcing you to throw it all out. The Royal Rooster’s weather-proofing provides peace of mind, ensuring your feed stays dry and your chickens stay healthy, no matter the forecast.
These feeders also come with versatile mounting brackets, allowing you to attach them to a solid wall or wire mesh, not just hang them from a chain. This flexibility can be a huge help in coops with limited overhead space or unconventional layouts. It’s a premium option, but the protection it offers is worth it for an outdoor setup.
Little Giant Hanging Feeder: Classic, Simple Design
Sometimes, you just need something that works without any fuss. The Little Giant hanging feeder is that option—a simple, affordable, and widely available plastic feeder that gets the job done. Its straightforward design consists of a feed reservoir and an open circular trough at the base.
This feeder is incredibly easy to fill and hang, making it a great entry-level choice for new chicken keepers. The plastic is lightweight and easy to wash, and its low price point makes it accessible for any budget. It’s a noticeable step up from any ground-based trough.
The primary tradeoff is its potential for waste. The open trough, while easy for chickens to access, still allows for some feed to be billed out onto the ground. It’s far better than a pan on the floor, but not as efficient as a port-style feeder. Think of it as a solid, reliable starting point.
OverEZ Chicken Feeder: High-Capacity PVC Design
The OverEZ feeder takes the concept of a DIY PVC tube feeder and perfects it for the backyard farmer. It’s built for capacity and convenience, often holding 25 pounds of feed or more. This is perfect for those with a mid-sized flock or anyone who wants the freedom to leave for a weekend without worrying about an empty feeder.
Like other PVC feeders, it’s exceptionally easy to clean and won’t rust or corrode. The feeding ports are designed to minimize spillage, keeping your feed costs down and the coop floor cleaner. The large-diameter tube ensures a steady, gravity-driven flow of pellets or crumbles.
This feeder is all about reducing your daily chore load. Filling a feeder once a week instead of every other day frees up valuable time. Its robust, simple construction means there are no complex parts to break or scrub, aligning perfectly with the hobby farmer’s need for low-maintenance, high-efficiency equipment.
Farm Tuff 22-lb Hanging Feeder: For Large Flocks
When you have a larger flock, a small feeder just creates more work. The Farm Tuff 22-lb Hanging Feeder is built to handle volume. Its high capacity means fewer refills, which is a significant time-saver for anyone managing more than a dozen birds.
Made from a single piece of molded, heavy-duty plastic, this feeder is incredibly durable and has no seams or joints where feed can get stuck or moisture can seep in. The wide, open trough allows multiple birds to eat at once, reducing competition and ensuring everyone gets their share.
While the open trough design isn’t as waste-proof as a port feeder, its sheer size and ruggedness make it a practical choice for large backyard flocks. It’s a simple, tough, and high-volume solution designed for one thing: feeding a lot of chickens with minimal fuss.
Key Features for a Mold-Free, Easy-Clean Feeder
When choosing a feeder, don’t just look at the brand name. Focus on the features that directly impact feed safety and your time. The right feeder for you depends on your specific setup, flock size, and climate.
Keep these key factors in mind:
- Material: Plastic/PVC is lightweight, rust-proof, and easy to sanitize. Galvanized Steel is more durable, rodent-resistant, and won’t degrade in UV light, but can eventually rust if damaged.
- Weather Protection: If your feeder is even partially exposed to rain, a built-in rain hood or cover is non-negotiable. Wet feed is wasted feed and a health risk.
- Feeder Port Design: Covered ports or T-junctions are the absolute best for preventing waste. An open trough is easier for birds to use but will always result in more spillage.
- Ease of Cleaning: Look for smooth surfaces and simple construction. A feeder you can easily take apart, scrub, and dry will be a feeder you actually keep clean.
- Capacity: Match the feeder’s capacity to your flock size and how often you want to do refills. Bigger isn’t always better if it means feed sits for weeks on end, especially in humid climates.
Ultimately, the best feeder is one that keeps feed dry, clean, and in front of your chickens—not on the ground. Balancing waste prevention with durability and ease of use will lead you to the right choice for your farm.
Choosing the right feeder is more than a simple purchase; it’s an investment in the efficiency of your homestead and the health of your flock. By prioritizing a design that keeps feed dry, clean, and contained, you reclaim time, save money, and prevent the health issues that stem from mold and contamination. It’s a small change that delivers a big impact, day after day.
