6 Best Poultry Grit Feeders For Digestion That Old Farmers Swear By
Essential for digestion, poultry grit needs the right feeder. Explore 6 farmer-approved options that prevent waste and promote optimal flock health.
You’ve probably seen a chicken peck at the ground, pick up a tiny stone, and swallow it whole. They aren’t just looking for snacks; they’re stocking their toolbox for digestion. Providing a consistent, clean source of grit is one of the easiest ways to ensure a healthy flock, and the right feeder makes all the difference between grit that gets used and grit that gets wasted.
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Why Grit is Essential for Your Flock’s Gizzard
Chickens don’t have teeth. Instead, they have a powerful muscular organ called the gizzard, which acts as their mechanical stomach. To grind up tough grains, seeds, and forage, the gizzard needs an abrasive material—insoluble grit.
Think of grit as the millstones in a gristmill. The gizzard contracts, using the small, hard stones to pulverize food into a digestible paste. Without it, birds can suffer from poor nutrient absorption, weight loss, or even a life-threatening condition called crop impaction.
Many people confuse grit with oyster shell, but they serve entirely different purposes. Oyster shell is soluble calcium for strong eggshells, and it dissolves in the digestive tract. Grit is insoluble granite or flint that stays in the gizzard for weeks, doing its job before being passed. While free-ranging birds will find some grit on their own, you can’t guarantee they’ll find enough, making supplementation a non-negotiable part of good husbandry.
Miller Galvanized Grit Feeder: A Timeless Classic
You’ll find some version of this feeder in barns that have been standing for a century. The Miller Galvanized Grit Feeder is a simple, durable, and effective tool. It’s typically a small, V-shaped hopper with a rain shield, designed to be hung on a nail or set on a block.
Its beauty is its simplicity. Made of heavy-duty galvanized steel, it resists rust and stands up to the pecking and jostling of an active flock. There are no plastic parts to get brittle and break, and no complex mechanisms to fail. You fill it, hang it, and forget about it for a while.
The main tradeoff is its open-front design. While the small opening prevents chickens from scratching all the grit out, a determined hen can still flick some onto the ground. Its effectiveness depends heavily on placement—hang it at back-height to the birds, and you’ll minimize waste and keep the grit clean from droppings.
Harris Farms Hanging Grit Feeder for Easy Access
For those who prefer a more modern approach, the Harris Farms Hanging Grit Feeder offers a clean and efficient solution. This feeder is typically made of durable plastic and designed to be hung from the coop ceiling or a fence post. It features multiple feeding ports that allow several birds to access the grit at once without competing.
The biggest advantage here is cleanliness. Because it’s a sealed container hanging above the ground, the grit is completely protected from droppings, dirt, and moisture. This design drastically reduces waste, as birds can only pull out what they intend to eat. It’s an excellent choice for smaller coops where floor space is limited.
The plastic construction is a double-edged sword. It’s lightweight, easy to clean, and won’t rust. However, over several years of exposure to direct sunlight, the plastic can become brittle. Still, for the price and the sheer reduction in wasted grit, it’s a fantastic option for most hobby farmers.
Little Giant Wall-Mounted Feeder for Clean Grit
If you’re tired of feeders getting knocked over or soiled, the Little Giant Wall-Mounted Feeder is your answer. This style of feeder screws directly onto an interior coop wall, making it impossible for birds to tip or scratch in. It’s the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it system for providing grit.
This feeder truly shines in maintaining hygiene. By keeping the grit supply completely off the floor, you eliminate any chance of contamination from manure or damp bedding. The design forces birds to eat directly from the trough, preventing them from scattering the contents. This is especially valuable in deep-litter systems where floor-level items can quickly get buried.
Of course, it requires a one-time installation with a few screws. But that small effort pays off in the long run with less wasted grit and less time spent cleaning. This is the best choice for the organized farmer who wants a permanent, tidy, and highly efficient grit station inside the coop.
RentACoop 2-in-1 Grit and Oyster Shell Feeder
Efficiency is key on a small farm, and the RentACoop 2-in-1 Feeder is built for it. This clever design features a divided hopper, allowing you to offer both insoluble grit and soluble oyster shell from a single unit. It saves space and streamlines your chores.
This feeder solves a common problem: having multiple small containers for different supplements cluttering up the coop. By combining them, you create one central station for digestive and laying health. Most models are designed to be wall-mounted, offering the same benefits of cleanliness and waste reduction as other mounted feeders.
The primary consideration is capacity. Since the internal space is divided, each compartment holds less than a dedicated feeder of the same size would. For a small backyard flock of 4-10 birds, it’s perfect. For a larger flock, you might need to refill it more frequently or opt for multiple units.
Behrens Galvanized Trough Feeder for Large Flocks
Sometimes, the old ways are best, especially when you have a lot of birds. The Behrens Galvanized Trough Feeder is a long, open-top metal feeder that provides maximum access. It’s a simple, rugged tool designed to serve many chickens at once without causing a traffic jam.
The main benefit is its capacity and accessibility. You can lay down a long line of grit, and a dozen birds can line up and eat peacefully. Made of thick galvanized steel, these troughs are nearly indestructible and will last for decades. They are heavy enough that birds can’t easily knock them over.
The obvious downside is that they are completely open. If left on the ground, the grit will quickly become filled with droppings and bedding. To use a trough effectively for grit, you must elevate it on cinder blocks or a wooden stand. This keeps it clean and prevents birds from scratching the contents out with their feet. It’s more work, but for a large flock, it’s often the most practical solution.
Brower Covered Ground Feeder for Pastured Birds
For flocks that spend most of their lives on pasture, protecting supplements from the elements is the biggest challenge. The Brower Covered Ground Feeder is purpose-built for this scenario. It’s a heavy-duty, low-profile feeder with a substantial rain cover that keeps the contents dry.
This feeder is all about durability and weather resistance. Often made from heavy-gauge steel or thick, UV-stabilized plastic, it’s designed to sit out in a field day after day. The wide base and low center of gravity make it incredibly stable, so it won’t get tipped by wind or rowdy birds.
While it’s a more specialized piece of equipment, it’s invaluable for anyone practicing rotational grazing. Placing a feeder like this near the flock’s waterer ensures they always have access to dry, clean grit, no matter the weather. It’s a prime example of investing in the right tool for a specific system.
Choosing Your Feeder: Material and Placement Tips
The "best" feeder is the one that fits your flock size, coop setup, and management style. There’s no single right answer, but you can make a smart choice by considering a few key factors. The two biggest decisions are material and placement.
For materials, your choice is generally between metal and plastic.
- Galvanized Steel: Extremely durable, heavy, and long-lasting. It will eventually rust if the coating is compromised, but a good one can last a lifetime.
- Plastic: Lightweight, rust-proof, and often easier to clean. It can become brittle from UV exposure over many years, but modern plastics are quite resilient.
Placement is even more critical than the feeder itself. Bad placement can render a great feeder useless. Always aim to keep grit clean, dry, and accessible. Hang or mount your feeder inside the coop to protect it from rain and prevent contamination from wild birds. If it must be on the ground, elevate it on cinder blocks to keep it out of the muck and reduce scratching waste.
Ultimately, providing grit is a simple task that pays huge dividends in flock health and productivity. Choosing a feeder that keeps the grit clean and minimizes waste isn’t about fancy equipment; it’s about smart, practical farming. Observe your birds, consider your setup, and pick the tool that will work best for you and your flock for years to come.
