6 Best Wall Mount Chick Feeders for Coops

You fill the feeder on Monday, and by Wednesday, it’s half-empty but the ground is covered in feed. Chickens are masters of waste, flicking, scratching, and soiling their food with impressive efficiency. For a hobby farmer, that wasted feed isn’t just a mess—it’s money out of your pocket and an open invitation for rodents and pests.

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Why Wall-Mounted Feeders Reduce Coop Waste

The biggest problem with ground-level feeders is the chickens themselves. Their natural instinct is to scratch and forage, which means they’ll happily kick bedding and droppings right into their food source. A feeder on the floor is just a big, expensive litter box to them.

Mounting a feeder changes the game entirely. By lifting the feed trough to the height of your birds’ backs, you immediately stop them from scratching bedding into it. They have to reach slightly to eat, which discourages them from flicking feed out with their beaks, a behavior known as "billing out." The feed stays in the feeder, clean and available.

This simple change has a ripple effect. Cleaner feed means healthier birds. Less spilled feed on the coop floor means fewer rats, mice, and wild birds are attracted to your setup. You save money on feed, spend less time cleaning, and reduce the risk of disease and pest infestations all at once.

RentACoop Feeder: Versatile for Any Coop Size

The RentACoop feeder is a modern classic for a reason: its design directly targets waste. Instead of an open trough, it uses feeding ports that require a chicken to stick its head inside to eat. This simple mechanism makes it nearly impossible for them to rake feed onto the floor.

This feeder’s versatility is its greatest strength. It comes in various capacities, from small 5-pound versions perfect for a trio of birds to larger 20-pound models for bigger flocks. You can mount them inside the coop to keep feed dry or even mount them on the outside with the ports poking through the wire, allowing you to refill without ever entering the run.

The only real tradeoff is the initial learning curve. While most chickens figure out the ports within an hour, a particularly stubborn or timid bird might take a day or two to get the hang of it. It’s a small price to pay for a dramatic reduction in wasted feed. This is the go-to choice for anyone whose primary goal is eliminating spillage.

Harris Farms Plastic Feeder: A Reliable Classic

You’ve seen this feeder everywhere. The long, red plastic trough with a white spinning reel on top is a staple in many coops. Its popularity comes from its simplicity, affordability, and straightforward effectiveness. It’s an excellent entry-level wall-mounted feeder.

The key feature here is the anti-roost reel. Chickens love to perch on high points, and without that spinning bar, the top of the feeder would be their favorite spot to sit and poop. The reel prevents this, keeping the feed below clean. The feeder’s long trough design also allows several birds to eat peacefully at once, reducing competition.

While better than a ground feeder, it’s not immune to waste. Chickens can still flick feed out of the open trough if they’re messy eaters. The trick is to mount it at the correct back-level height and to not overfill it. It’s a solid, budget-friendly workhorse, but expect a little more cleanup than with a port-style feeder.

Royal Rooster Treadle Feeder: Pest-Proof Design

If rodents are your number one enemy, the treadle feeder is your ultimate weapon. This isn’t just a feeder; it’s a fortress. The feed is kept in a sealed metal box, and the lid only opens when a chicken stands on the attached treadle plate. Rats and small birds simply aren’t heavy enough to operate it.

Mounting a treadle feeder to the wall or a solid post keeps the mechanism clear of bedding, ensuring it opens and closes smoothly every time. This design completely eliminates feed access for pests, saving you a fortune in stolen grain and protecting your flock from diseases that rodents carry. It’s a significant upfront investment, but it can pay for itself quickly if you have a serious pest problem.

The catch is that your flock needs to be trained. This usually involves propping the lid open for a few days until they get comfortable eating from it, then gradually lowering it. It’s a small-time commitment for unparalleled pest protection and zero feed waste from scavengers.

Brower Galvanized Feeder for Maximum Durability

For the farmer who is tired of replacing equipment, the Brower galvanized steel feeder is built like a tank. Plastic can become brittle in the sun and crack in freezing temperatures, but this feeder is made to last for decades. It’s a one-time purchase that will likely outlast your coop itself.

The design is simple and rugged. A hinged lid makes refilling easy, while a wire scratch guard over the trough prevents chickens from kicking feed out. This guard forces them to eat more deliberately, significantly cutting down on waste. The heavy-duty construction also means it can’t be knocked over or damaged by more aggressive birds.

This feeder represents a "buy it once, buy it right" philosophy. It’s heavier, more expensive, and lacks the high-tech appeal of a treadle feeder. But for sheer, uncompromising durability and simple waste reduction, a galvanized steel feeder is the most reliable long-term investment you can make.

Little Giant Feeder: Simple & Effective Design

The Little Giant feeder is a perfect middle-ground option, especially for smaller flocks or for use in a specific area like a brooder or grow-out pen. Often made of either plastic or galvanized metal, it provides a significant upgrade from a simple pan without the bulk or cost of a larger system. Its compact size makes it easy to mount anywhere.

Like its larger cousins, its primary waste-prevention feature is a scratch guard. This simple grid of wires laid over the feed trough is surprisingly effective. It breaks the chicken’s ability to perform that wide, sweeping rake with its beak that sends feed flying everywhere.

This isn’t the feeder for a flock of 30, and it won’t stop a determined rat. But for a backyard flock of 4-8 birds, it’s an ideal solution that balances cost, durability, and waste reduction. It’s a practical, no-nonsense tool that gets the job done without over-complication.

OverEZ Gravity Feeder for Less Frequent Refills

Time is the most valuable resource for any hobby farmer. The OverEZ gravity feeder is designed to give you some of that time back. With a massive capacity—often holding 50 pounds of feed or more—it can feed a decent-sized flock for weeks without needing a refill.

This feeder is designed to be mounted to a wall or stud, ensuring its large weight is secure. Feed is stored in the sealed hopper and flows down into the feeding trough as needed, keeping it fresh and preventing contamination. The trough itself is designed to be deep enough to discourage billing out, though it’s not as foolproof as a port-style feeder.

The main consideration is flock size. For a small flock of just a few birds, 50 pounds of feed could sit for too long and risk going stale or molding in humid climates. But for anyone with 10 or more birds, this feeder is a game-changer that turns a daily chore into a bi-weekly or monthly task.

Choosing the Right Feeder for Your Flock’s Needs

There is no single "best" feeder—only the best feeder for your specific situation. The right choice depends entirely on your priorities, your flock size, and the problems you’re trying to solve. Don’t just buy the most popular model; buy the one that addresses your biggest headache.

Use this framework to decide:

• If your top priority is eliminating waste from messy eaters, choose a port-style feeder like the RentACoop.
• If your biggest problem is rodents and pests, the Royal Rooster Treadle Feeder is the only real solution.
• If you value longevity and want to buy one feeder for life, invest in a Brower Galvanized Feeder.
• If you’re on a budget or have a small flock, a classic trough like the Harris Farms or Little Giant is a great start.
• If you want to save time and refill as infrequently as possible, the high-capacity OverEZ Gravity Feeder is your best bet.

No matter which feeder you choose, remember the golden rule: mount it so the lip of the trough is level with the back of your average-sized chicken. This single adjustment is the most important step you can take to stop waste, save money, and keep your flock healthier.

Ultimately, a good wall-mounted feeder is an investment, not an expense. It pays you back every day in saved feed, reduced labor, and a cleaner, healthier coop. Choose wisely, and you’ll solve one of the most persistent problems in poultry keeping.