6 Best Wall Mount Chicken Feeders to Reduce Waste
Reduce costly feed spillage and deter pests. We review the 6 best wall-mounted chicken feeders that keep food clean, dry, and off the coop floor.
Watching your chickens enthusiastically scratch their feed all over the coop floor is a classic, if frustrating, sight for any flock owner. That scattered feed isn’t just a mess; it’s wasted money and an open invitation for pests. Switching to a wall-mounted feeder is one of the most effective changes you can make to reclaim that lost feed and create a cleaner, healthier environment for your birds.
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Why Wall-Mount Feeders Cut Down on Waste
The primary reason wall-mounted feeders are so effective is that they lift the feed off the ground, fundamentally changing how chickens interact with it. Chickens have a natural instinct to scratch and forage, and a ground-level feeder becomes a prime target for this behavior. By elevating the feeder, you eliminate their ability to kick and scatter pellets or crumbles all over the bedding, ensuring the feed stays where it belongs.
Beyond preventing scratching, mounting a feeder significantly improves coop hygiene. When feed is on the floor, it inevitably gets contaminated with droppings and damp bedding, which can harbor harmful bacteria and lead to flock health issues. An elevated feeder keeps the food supply clean and dry, reducing the risk of illness and discouraging mold growth. This simple change also makes it nearly impossible for chickens to roost on top of their feeder, a common source of contamination in many coop setups.
Finally, a secured wall feeder is a stable feeder. Ground feeders, especially lighter plastic models, are easily knocked over by a boisterous hen or an accidental bump while you’re cleaning the coop. A tipped-over feeder means an entire day’s worth of food is instantly wasted and soiled. Bolting the feeder to a wall or stud provides a sturdy, reliable feeding station that saves you time, money, and the daily headache of cleaning up preventable spills.
What to Look for in a Wall-Mounted Feeder
When choosing a feeder, the first major consideration is the material. Galvanized steel feeders are incredibly durable, chew-proof against rodents, and will last for years, but they can be heavier and more expensive. UV-stabilized, food-grade plastics like PVC are lighter, often more affordable, and won’t rust, but a determined rodent could potentially damage them over time. Your choice here depends on your budget, your coop’s pest pressure, and whether you prioritize longevity or ease of handling.
Next, consider the capacity and design that best fits your flock and your schedule. A high-capacity feeder is a great time-saver if you have a larger flock or want to go away for a weekend without worrying about refills. However, for a small backyard flock of three to six birds, a massive feeder can lead to stale feed. The design also matters immensely.
- Trough-style feeders are simple and allow multiple birds to eat at once.
- Port-style feeders (with individual holes for access) are excellent at preventing chickens from "billing out" or raking feed onto the floor.
- Treadle feeders, which open when a chicken steps on a platform, offer the ultimate protection against wild birds and rodents.
Don’t overlook the ease of cleaning and filling. A feeder with a wide-mouthed opening or a removable lid will make your chores much easier than one with a small, awkward access point. Some designs can be filled from outside the coop, which is a fantastic feature for convenience. Think about your routine: will you be hauling a 50-pound bag of feed to the coop? If so, a feeder that is easy to access and fill without spilling will be worth its weight in gold.
RentACoop T-Feeder: Excellent PVC Tube Design
If you’re tired of watching your chickens rake feed out of a trough, the RentACoop T-Feeder is the solution you’re looking for. Its design is brilliantly simple: a PVC tube holds the feed, and chickens access it through small ports at the bottom. This port system forces them to eat one mouthful at a time, making it nearly impossible to spill or selectively flick out pieces they don’t want. It’s an ideal choice for the small-flock owner who is fed up with daily waste.
This feeder is perfect for the hobby farmer with a flock of 3 to 12 birds who values efficiency over all else. The PVC construction is lightweight, easy to clean, and simple to mount inside or outside the coop. Because it’s a closed system, it also offers decent protection from rain and keeps the feed clean from droppings. If you’re dealing with crumbles or a mixed-grain feed that your birds love to sort through, this feeder will pay for itself in saved feed very quickly.
Royal Rooster Feeder: Best for Pellet Feed
The Royal Rooster feeder takes the port-style concept and refines it with features that give you more control. It includes a rain cover to keep feed perfectly dry, making it a fantastic option for mounting on the outside of a run. More importantly, it features internal dividers at the feeding ports, which helps prevent chickens from swiping their beaks side-to-side and pulling feed out. This little detail makes it exceptionally good for pellet-only diets.
This feeder is the right choice for the detail-oriented flock owner who primarily uses pellet feed and wants to minimize even the smallest amount of waste. The durable, UV-resistant plastic construction holds up well to the elements, and the thoughtful design addresses common points of failure in other tube feeders. If you want a "set it and forget it" system that protects your feed from weather and messy eaters alike, the Royal Rooster is a top-tier investment.
Little Giant Galvanized Feeder: Classic Choice
There’s a reason the Little Giant galvanized steel feeder has been a mainstay in coops for decades: it’s tough, simple, and it just works. Made from heavy-duty steel, it’s completely rodent-proof and will likely outlast the coop itself. The classic trough design allows several birds to eat comfortably at once, and the built-in guard helps reduce some of the scratching and billing behavior that causes waste. It’s a straightforward, no-frills workhorse.
This feeder is for the traditionalist and the budget-conscious farmer who prioritizes durability and simplicity. It doesn’t have the fancy no-spill ports of modern designs, so you’ll need to mount it at the correct height to see real waste reduction. But if you’re looking for an affordable, buy-it-for-life feeder that can withstand anything your flock or the local wildlife can throw at it, this is your best bet. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the old ways are the best ways.
Grandpa’s Feeders: Durable Metal Treadle Option
For those battling a relentless siege from rodents, squirrels, and wild birds, Grandpa’s Feeder is less a piece of equipment and more a permanent solution. This is a treadle feeder; the feed trough is completely covered until a chicken steps on the platform, using its own weight to lift the lid. This ingenious mechanical design makes the feed completely inaccessible to pests, saving you a tremendous amount of money and improving biosecurity.
This is an investment, not a casual purchase. It is the definitive choice for the farmer who is losing a significant portion of their feed to pests and is ready to solve the problem for good. The all-metal construction is incredibly robust and weatherproof. While it requires a brief training period for your flock, they learn quickly, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your feed is secure 24/7 is invaluable. If pests are your primary concern, look no further.
Harris Farms Hanging Feeder: Versatile Pick
The Harris Farms Hanging Feeder is a popular plastic model that offers excellent flexibility. While designed to be hung, it comes with mounting hardware and its flat back sits perfectly flush against a wall, making it a great wall-mount option. Its deep trough and high sides do a good job of containing feed, and the screw-on lid keeps things secure and clean. It’s a solid, adaptable design that can fit into almost any coop setup.
This feeder is an excellent all-around choice for the hobby farmer who wants a reliable, easy-to-use feeder without committing to a highly specialized design. Its plastic construction makes it lightweight and simple to clean, and the capacity is well-suited for a typical backyard flock. If you want a feeder that you can hang now and perhaps wall-mount later, or if you simply need a dependable and affordable option that performs better than a basic ground trough, this is a smart and versatile pick.
OverEZ Feeder: Best Large Capacity Solution
If you have a large flock or just want to minimize your daily chores, the OverEZ Feeder is the answer. Holding up to 50 pounds of feed, this PVC feeder is built for capacity and convenience, allowing you to go a week or more between refills. It uses a gravity-fed system with three circular feeding ports at the bottom, which, like other port-style feeders, significantly reduces spillage and keeps the feed contained and clean.
This feeder is built for the flock owner with 15+ birds or anyone who prioritizes labor-saving equipment above all else. The sheer volume it holds is its main selling point. Due to its weight when full, secure mounting to a solid wall stud is absolutely critical. If you travel frequently or manage a larger-than-average backyard flock, the ability to fill it and forget it for an extended period makes the OverEZ an indispensable piece of coop infrastructure.
Proper Mounting Height for Your Chicken Flock
Simply buying a wall-mounted feeder isn’t enough; installing it at the correct height is the key to unlocking its waste-reducing potential. The golden rule is to mount the feeder so that the lip of the trough or the bottom of the feeding port is level with the height of your chickens’ backs. This positioning is crucial for a few reasons.
First, it forces the birds to reach slightly upwards to eat. This posture makes it physically difficult for them to scratch with their feet or use their beaks to rake feed out onto the floor. They have to focus on eating what’s in front of them, which is exactly the behavior you want to encourage. If the feeder is too low, they’ll treat it just like a ground feeder and scatter feed everywhere. If it’s too high, they’ll struggle to eat comfortably and may not get enough food.
For flocks with mixed sizes, such as bantams and standard breeds living together, you have two options. The best solution is to provide two separate feeders mounted at different heights to accommodate everyone. If that isn’t practical, mount the feeder at the back-height of the smallest adult bird in your flock. This ensures everyone can eat, even if it means the larger birds have to crouch a bit. It’s a compromise, but it’s better than leaving your smaller birds unable to reach their food.
Choosing the Right Feeder for a Cleaner Coop
Ultimately, the right wall-mounted feeder is the one that best solves your specific problems. It’s not just about buying the most expensive or feature-rich model. It’s about matching the equipment to your flock size, your management style, and the challenges you face, whether that’s persistent pests, messy eaters, or just a lack of time.
A farmer with three tidy hens in a small, secure coop has very different needs than someone with thirty birds and a constant battle against squirrels and wild sparrows. The first might be perfectly served by a simple galvanized trough, while the second would see an immediate return on investment from a treadle feeder. Think of your feeder as a critical component of your coop’s ecosystem. A good feeder doesn’t just hold food; it saves money, improves flock health, and reduces your daily workload.
Take a moment to assess your biggest frustrations. Is it the cost of wasted feed? The time spent cleaning up spills? Or the stress of knowing rodents are sharing your chickens’ dinner? Answering that question will point you directly to the feeder that will not only reduce waste but also make the rewarding job of keeping chickens just a little bit easier.
By elevating your feed, you elevate your entire flock management system. It’s a simple change that pays dividends in saved money, improved health, and a cleaner, more enjoyable coop. Choose the right feeder for your flock, mount it correctly, and watch the waste disappear.
