7 Best Galvanized Steel Nut Bins For Chickens to Stop Pests

You walk out to the coop one morning and see it: a tiny, perfectly round hole chewed through the side of your plastic feed tote. The ground is littered with expensive pellets, and you know that for every bit you see, ten times more was eaten or contaminated overnight. This isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a direct hit to your wallet and an open invitation for every rodent in the county to visit your flock. Securing your chicken feed is one of the most fundamental parts of raising healthy birds and managing a clean, pest-free homestead.

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Why Galvanized Steel Bins Beat Plastic for Feed

The first mistake many new chicken keepers make is storing feed in a plastic tote. It seems logical—it’s cheap and has a lid. But mice and rats can chew through a standard plastic bin in a single night, turning your fifty-pound bag of feed into an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Galvanized steel is the definitive solution. Rodents cannot chew through it, period. The metal creates an impenetrable barrier that protects your investment from teeth and claws. It also stands up to the elements, resisting rust and degradation from sun and rain far better than any plastic container.

Think of a steel bin not as a container, but as a vault for your feed. It’s a one-time purchase that pays for itself by eliminating waste and discouraging pests from settling in near your coop. A secure feed supply means fewer rodents, which in turn means less risk of disease transmission to your flock.

Behrens 20-Gallon Can: Classic Rodent-Proofing

This is the quintessential farm-grade trash can for a reason. Its simple, rugged construction is exactly what you need for basic rodent-proofing. The 20-gallon size is perfect for holding two 50-pound bags of feed with a little room to spare, making it a practical choice for most backyard flocks.

The key is its tight-fitting lid. While it doesn’t have a locking mechanism, the snug fit is more than enough to deter mice, rats, and squirrels. Its strength lies in its simplicity—no plastic parts to break, no complex latches to fail. It just works.

However, be aware of its limitations. A determined raccoon can and will figure out how to pry this lid off. If you have clever critters in your area, this can might need to be secured with a bungee cord or a heavy rock on top. For pure rodent control, though, it’s a reliable classic.

Miller Manufacturing 10-Gallon Feeder with Lid

This option from Miller Manufacturing blurs the line between a storage bin and a feeder. Its 10-gallon capacity holds about 50 pounds of feed, making it a great choice for smaller flocks or as a "day bin" you keep closer to the coop. You can fill it from your main storage and reduce daily trips to the shed.

Its design includes smart features that show an understanding of chicken behavior. The slanted top prevents birds from roosting on it and soiling their feed supply. The lid is designed to shed water effectively, keeping the contents dry even in a downpour.

This isn’t your bulk storage solution. Instead, think of it as a crucial part of an efficient feeding system. By using it in tandem with a larger bin, you can keep the bulk of your feed locked down tight while maintaining convenient, secure access for daily chores.

Vestil STEEL-PAIL-30G for Bulk Feed Storage

When you start buying feed in bulk to save money, you need a storage solution that can keep up. The Vestil 30-gallon steel pail is an industrial-grade container built for serious storage. This is less of a feed bin and more of a miniature silo for the dedicated hobby farmer.

Its heavy-gauge steel construction and reinforced rings make it exceptionally durable. The lid is typically secured with a lever-lock ring, creating an airtight and completely pest-proof seal that even the most persistent raccoon can’t defeat. This is the kind of security that gives you total peace of mind.

The tradeoff is size and cost. This bin is heavy, less portable, and represents a higher upfront investment. But if you have a larger flock or the space to store several hundred pounds of feed at a time, the savings from bulk purchasing and zero waste will quickly justify the expense.

Little Giant 6.5-Gallon Galvanized Feed Bin

Not all feed comes in 50-pound bags. Sometimes you just need a small, secure place for scratch grains, oyster shells, or specialty supplements. The Little Giant 6.5-gallon bin is the perfect tool for this job.

Its compact size and sturdy handle make it easy to carry and store. It holds about 25 pounds of feed, making it ideal for organizing different types of feed or for those with a very small flock of three or four birds. The simple press-on lid is sufficient to keep out mice and moisture.

Using several of these smaller bins can bring a surprising amount of organization to your feed room. You can label each one, preventing mix-ups and ensuring you always have your flock’s supplements on hand. It’s a small investment that streamlines your daily chores.

Witt Industries 16-Gallon Can with Locking Lid

This is the can you buy after a raccoon has made a fool of you. The Witt 16-gallon can steps up security with an integrated locking lid. This feature is the single most important defense against clever predators.

The locking mechanism is typically a simple but effective steel latch or handle that clamps the lid down tightly. A raccoon can’t get the leverage to pry it open, and a bear would have a hard time with it. This design addresses the primary weakness of standard press-on lids.

This bin hits a sweet spot for many. It’s large enough to hold a 50-pound bag of feed with room to scoop, but it’s not as cumbersome as the 30-gallon behemoths. If raccoons are a known problem on your property, a locking lid isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Behrens 10-Gallon Locking Can: Vintage & Secure

Behrens takes its classic, durable design and adds the one feature it was missing: a lock. This 10-gallon can provides the same rodent-proof steel construction but with a robust locking handle that secures the lid against all but the most extreme threats. It often has a vintage aesthetic that looks great in a rustic barn or shed.

This size is perfect for holding a single 50-pound bag of feed, making it a go-to choice for flocks of up to a dozen birds. It’s easy to handle and doesn’t take up a huge amount of floor space. The locking mechanism is simple to operate with one hand but impossible for a pest to manipulate.

Consider this the ideal all-arounder for the average backyard chicken keeper. It offers top-tier security against both rodents and raccoons in a manageable and durable package. It’s the kind of tool you buy once and use for decades.

Rugged Ranch 30-Gallon Galvanized Feed Storage

For those with larger flocks or a desire to store multiple feed types in one place, the Rugged Ranch 30-gallon bin is a versatile workhorse. Its large capacity can hold over 150 pounds of feed, minimizing your trips to the feed store.

What often sets these larger bins apart is their design. Some models come with an internal divider, allowing you to store layer pellets on one side and scratch grains or chick starter on the other. The lid is almost always a heavy, overlapping design that is inherently difficult for pests to lift, and many include a latch for extra security.

This bin is an investment in efficiency. Storing more feed on-site saves time and allows you to take advantage of sales. If you’re managing more than 15 birds, a large-capacity, well-built bin like this quickly becomes an indispensable piece of equipment.

Ultimately, choosing the right galvanized steel bin comes down to your flock size and the specific pests you face. Whether you need a simple rodent-proof can or a raccoon-proof locking vault, making the switch from plastic is a critical step. Protecting your feed is about more than just saving money on wasted pellets; it’s about managing a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable homestead.