5 Best Plastic Feed Bins For Backyard Flocks
Keep your flock’s feed safe from pests and moisture. Our guide reviews the 5 best plastic bins, comparing durability, capacity, and pest-proof features.
You hear a scratching sound from the garage late at night and your heart sinks, knowing its probably a mouseor worse, a ratchewing through another expensive bag of chicken feed. Storing feed properly isn’t just about neatness; it’s a critical defense against pests, moisture, and waste that can undermine your entire backyard flock operation. The right plastic bin is a simple, one-time investment that pays for itself by protecting your flock‘s nutrition and your wallet.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Securing Feed: Why Plastic Bins Are Essential
Pests are the number one reason to get your feed out of the bag and into a proper container. A thin paper or woven plastic bag is no match for the sharp teeth of mice, rats, and squirrels. Once they find the buffet, they not only eat the feed but contaminate it with droppings, creating a serious health risk for your birds.
Moisture is the silent enemy. A damp garage or a humid summer day can turn a full bag of feed into a moldy, clumpy mess in no time. Moldy feed can cause respiratory issues and digestive upset in chickens, and some molds produce toxins that can be fatal. Unlike metal cans that can rust from the inside out when condensation forms, a good plastic bin creates a reliable barrier against humidity.
Ultimately, a secure bin saves you money. Every scoop of feed lost to pests or spoilage is cash thrown away. By investing in a durable plastic container, you ensure that the feed you buy is the feed your chickens eat. This simple step is one of the easiest ways to control costs and improve the health and safety of your flock.
Vittles Vault Outback for Airtight Storage
When you need absolute, uncompromising protection, the Vittles Vault is the answer. Its signature feature is the gamma seal lid, a threaded, screw-on top with a heavy-duty gasket. You spin it on, and it creates a truly airtight and watertight seal.
This level of protection means two things. First, pests cannot smell the feed inside, so they are less likely to even try getting in. Second, it completely locks out moisture, keeping feed bone-dry and fresh for months. This is especially valuable if you live in a humid climate or like to buy feed in bulk to save money but take a while to go through it.
The main tradeoff is the price. Vittles Vaults are an investment compared to simpler bins. However, if you’ve ever lost a full 50-pound bag of premium organic feed to mold or a family of raccoons, you understand that the cost of failure can be much higher. It’s a premium solution for those who want to eliminate storage as a point of worry.
Behrens 20-Gallon Can with Secure Locking Lid
Get durable, rust-proof trash disposal with this 6-gallon steel can. It features a locking lid and is proudly made in the USA.
The Behrens plastic can looks like a classic galvanized steel trash can, but its built from tough, weather-resistant plastic that wont rust or dent easily. Its real strength lies in its lid design. The lid fits snugly over the top and is held in place by two steel handles that lock it down.
This locking mechanism is its key advantage. While not truly airtight like a Vittles Vault, it is exceptionally effective at deterring clever and dexterous pests like raccoons. A simple snap-on lid is no challenge for them, but these locking handles present a significant barrier. This makes the Behrens can a fantastic choice for feed stored in a barn, shed, or covered porch where larger animals are a primary concern.
This durable, 10-gallon galvanized steel can is ideal for trash, yard waste, or storage. Made in the USA, it's weather, rodent, and chemical resistant for long-lasting use.
Think of it as the middle ground between a basic bin and a fully sealed vault. It offers robust physical security and good weather resistance at a more moderate price point. For many hobby farmers, this combination is the perfect balance of protection and practicality.
Rubbermaid Brute: A Durable, All-Purpose Bin
The Rubbermaid Brute is the workhorse of farms, garages, and worksites everywhere for a reason: it’s incredibly tough. Made from thick, commercial-grade plastic, these bins can handle being dropped, kicked, and knocked over without cracking. If you need a bin that can live in a high-traffic area, the Brute is a reliable choice.
Its lid is a simple press-and-snap design. This is perfectly adequate for keeping out rain, dust, and opportunistic mice. It provides a solid, basic level of protection that works well inside a relatively secure structure like a garage or a well-built coop.
The Brutes biggest selling points are its affordability and versatility. Its not the most secure option against a determined raccoon, nor is it airtight. But it’s an accessible, durable, and cost-effective solution that gets the job done in most low-to-moderate-risk situations. Plus, if you ever change your feed setup, you’ll have a fantastic all-purpose container for a dozen other uses.
Little Giant Muck Tub for Easy Open-Top Access
This one might seem counterintuitive, but for a specific workflow, a muck tub is an unbeatable tool. These tubs are made from pliable, thick polyethylene that is virtually indestructible. They are designed for heavy, messy farm chores, so they can certainly handle a few scoops of chicken feed.
The key here is that a muck tub is not for primary storage. It’s for daily access inside a completely pest-proof area, like a secure feed room or right inside the coop. You store your main 50-pound bags in a secure bin elsewhere, and you use the muck tub to hold a few days’ worth of feed for easy scooping during morning chores. No lid to fuss with, a wide opening, and it’s incredibly easy to dump out and rinse clean.
This approach is only for those with an already secure area. If you have any signs of mice or other pests in your coop or barn, an open-top bin is a terrible idea. But if your setup is locked down tight, using a muck tub can seriously streamline your daily feeding routine, separating the task of storage from the task of access.
United Solutions Wheeled Bin for Portability
Moving 50-pound bags of feed from the car to the shed, and from the shed to the coop, gets old fast. The United Solutions Wheeled Bin directly addresses this problem. Its essentially a sturdy, rectangular bin set on two rugged wheels with a handle, allowing you to easily tilt and roll your feed supply wherever it needs to go.
The design prioritizes convenience. For anyone with a bad back or a coop located a fair distance from their feed storage area, this is a game-changer. The lid is a simple snap-on style, similar to a Rubbermaid Brute, offering good protection from weather and small pests.
This bin is the perfect solution for the hobby farmer whose biggest challenge isn’t a raccoon infestation but logistics. It may not have the airtight seal of a Vittles Vault or the locking clamps of a Behrens, but the sheer ease of moving a full container of feed can make it the most practical choice. It’s a clear example of choosing the right tool for your specific problem.
Key Features: Capacity, Lid Type, and Shape
When choosing a bin, start with capacity. A standard 50-pound bag of chicken feed takes up about 10-12 gallons of space. It’s always wise to buy a bin that’s slightly larger than the bag you use, like a 20-gallon bin for a 50-pound bag. This gives you room to dump the new bag in before the old one is completely empty, preventing you from ever running out.
Next, consider the lid type, as this dictates the level of protection.
- Screw-On (Gamma Seal): Best for airtightness. Prevents moisture and keeps feed fresh.
- Locking Handles: Best for deterring large pests like raccoons.
- Snap-On: Good for general protection against weather and mice in a secure area.
- Open-Top: Only for daily use in a 100% pest-proof location.
Finally, think about shape. A square or rectangular bin is more space-efficient and fits neatly against a wall or in a corner. A round bin, however, often has a stronger structure due to its shape and is easier to clean, as there are no tight corners where old feed dust can accumulate. The best shape depends entirely on where you plan to keep it.
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Plastic Feed Bin
Your feed bin isn’t a "set it and forget it" piece of equipment. The fine dust and oils from feed can build up on the bottom and sides, eventually going rancid and potentially contaminating fresh feed. This buildup can also attract moisture and mold.
The best practice is simple: every time you empty a bin, give it a quick cleaning before refilling it. You don’t need harsh chemicals. Just dump out any remaining dust, scrub it with a brush and some mild dish soap, rinse it thoroughly, and let it dry completely in the sun. The UV rays from the sun are a fantastic natural disinfectant.
Periodically, give your bin a quick inspection. Check for any cracks or holes, especially around the base and lid where it gets the most wear. A determined rodent can easily widen a tiny crack into an entry point. A quality plastic bin should last for many years, but catching a small problem early prevents it from becoming a big, expensive one later.
Choosing the right plastic feed bin isn’t about finding the single best product, but about correctly identifying your biggest risks. Whether you’re fighting off clever raccoons, battling humidity, or just trying to save your back, there’s a bin designed to solve your specific problem. A small investment now protects your flock’s health and your feed budget for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is food-grade plastic for chicken feed storage?
Food-grade plastic for chicken feed storage refers to containers made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE #2) or polypropylene (PP #5) that do not leach harmful chemicals into poultry grain. These virgin plastics resist UV degradation and chemical leaching over time. Look for the resin identification code marked with a 2 or 5 inside the recycling triangle, often stamped on the bottom of the container.
What does an airtight seal do on a plastic feed bin?
An airtight seal on a plastic feed bin locks out ambient humidity, keeps grain weevils and flour mites from entering, and slows the oxidation of essential fats in the feed. Most quality bins use a silicone or rubber gasket embedded into a screw-top or gamma-seal lid. This mechanical barrier prevents damp air from triggering mold growth during wet spring or humid summer months.
How do I clean and sanitize a plastic feed bin?
Empty the plastic feed bin completely, wash the interior with warm water and mild dish soap, rinse thoroughly, and wipe it down with a dilute white vinegar solution. Allow the container to dry fully in direct sunlight for at least four to six hours before refilling. Trapping even a single tablespoon of residual wash water inside the closed bin will rot the new grain within a week.
How long does dry chicken feed stay fresh in a plastic bin?
Dry chicken feed typically stays fresh for four to six months when stored in a sealed plastic bin placed in a cool, dry area. Vitamin potency, specifically vitamin A and E, begins degrading past the six-week mark if exposed to temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. For best flock health, buy only the quantity your birds can consume within thirty to forty-five days.
Metal trash cans vs plastic feed bins for backyard flocks which is better?
Plastic feed bins are lighter, rust-proof, and offer superior airtight gasket seals, while galvanized metal cans provide unmatched protection against aggressive rodents that can chew through softer materials. Metal cans often sweat in high humidity, which can spoil grain on the bottom layer. Choose heavy-duty plastic with threaded lids if moisture and pest bugs are your primary concern, but use metal if rats are already present.
What size plastic feed bin do I need for a 50-pound feed bag?
A standard 50-pound bag of pelleted or crumbled chicken feed requires a plastic feed bin with a capacity of at least 13 to 15 gallons, or roughly 50 to 60 quarts. Whole grains and scratch mix are denser, fitting into a slightly smaller 12-gallon bin. Purchasing an 18-gallon tote or a 60-pound Vittles Vault ensures the entire bag fits without spilling over during pouring.
Why is moisture building up inside my plastic chicken feed bin?
Moisture forms inside a plastic chicken feed bin when warm, humid air gets trapped inside and condenses against cooler bin walls as outside temperatures drop overnight. Placing the bin directly on cold concrete floors intensifies this temperature shift. Elevate your storage bin on wooden pallets, keep it out of direct sunlight, and leave feed bags inside the bin rather than pouring the loose grain directly against plastic walls.
Can mice and rats chew through plastic feed bins stored in a coop?
Rats and mice can gnaw through standard thin-walled plastic feed bins if they detect food odors or locate an accessible plastic edge or seam. Heavy-duty containers molded from dense, structural-grade polyethylene with seamless rounded corners make it nearly impossible for rodents to establish a bite grip. Keep bin surfaces wiped free of grain dust to minimize scent attraction that triggers rodent chewing behaviors.
