Choosing a Poultry Feeder
Optimum feeder capacity is dependent on:
- Number and size of birds.
- How often you prefer to refill the feeders.
Pick a feeder that will provide enough feed for the birds between your visits to the coop.
If you have a few birds or visit frequently, you can manage with a smaller feeder. As bird size and/or flock size increases, so should the size of the feeder(s).
For waterfowl use a feeder with a wide base so they can fit their bills into it.
What is a bird’s daily feed intake?
A medium-size adult chicken will eat about 4 oz (1/4 lb) of feed per day. This varies by age and size of bird and the type of feed.
To keep litter out of feed...
- Chicks
- Use a Chick Stand.
- Adults
- Use grills or guards in feeders.
- Keep feeders several inches above the ground by hanging them or placing on cinder blocks or other sturdy support.
Feed flow...
Feed flow is affected by the fineness of feed, humidity and amount of feed. Very fine feeds, moist air or compacted feed will cause the feed to flow poorly through feeders. Solution—with large feeders select a coarser feed that does not "bind-up" as easily.
Feeder Comparison Chart
Name | Capacity | Suited for | No. of birds fed* |
inside/ outside |
Grill | Can be hung? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chick Tray, Disposable Chick Tray, Plastic |
.5 lb .5 lb |
chicks chicks |
14-25 14-25 |
inside inside |
no no |
no no |
Double Down Drinker/Feeder | 1.5 lb | adults | 12 | inside | no | no |
Abbey Cage Cups | 3/4 cup | adults | 1 | inside | no | no |
Gemini 11 Gemini 20 |
.5 lb 1 lb |
chicks chicks |
14 28 |
inside inside |
yes yes |
no no |
Columbia 12 Columbia 20 |
.75 lb 5 lb |
chicks adults/chicks |
21 20 |
inside inside/ |
yes yes |
no no |
Apollo 20 | 5 lb | adults/ |
20 | inside/ |
yes | no |
VFEEDR "No Waste" Feeder | 5.5 lb | adults | 20 | inside/ |
no | yes |
Saturn 3 | 3 lb | adults/ |
12-20 | inside | yes | no |
Classic F2 Classic F3 |
2 lb 3 lb |
adults/ adults/ |
15 12-20 |
inside inside |
no no |
no no |
Tower Feeder Tower Feeder Tower Feeder Tower Feeder |
4 lb 9 lb 26 lb 35 lb |
adults/chicks adults/chicks adults/chicks adults/chicks |
20 40 80 140 |
inside inside inside inside |
yes yes yes yes |
yes yes yes yes |
Metal Troughs | 5 lb | adults | 24 | inside | yes | no |
Ascot | 6 lb | adults | 24 | inside/ |
yes | yes |
Grit Station | 6 lb | adults | 24 | inside | no | no |
Top-Fill | 9 lb | adults/chicks | 1-32 | inside/ |
yes | yes |
Wise Cage | 10 lb | adults | 40 | inside/ |
yes | no |
Galvanized Cone Feeders Galvanized Cone Feeders Galvanized Cone Feeders |
11 lb 22 lb 44 lb |
adults adults adults |
44 88 176 |
inside/ inside/ inside/ |
yes yes yes |
yes yes yes |
Spiral, 2 gal bucket Spiral, 4 gal bucket |
12 lb 24 lb |
adults adults |
48 96 |
inside/ inside/ |
no no |
yes yes |
Blenheim | 13 lb | adults | 52 | inside/ |
yes | yes |
Adjustable Metal Feeder | 13.5 lb | adults | 10 | inside/ |
no | yes |
Saturn 15 | 15 lb | adults | 60 | inside/ |
yes | yes |
Feed-O-Matic Feed-O-Matic |
17.5 lb 44 lb |
adults adults |
70 176 |
inside/ inside/ |
no no |
no no |
Broiler Troughs | 20 lb | adults | 90 | inside | no | no |
Elbow Feeder | 20 lb | adults | 80 | inside/ |
no | no |
Wise Mountable | 20 lb | adults | 80 | inside/ |
yes | no |
SmartStep Feeders SmartStep Feeders SmartStep Feeders |
13 lb 26 lb 66 lb |
adults adults adults |
52 100 264 |
inside/ inside/ inside/ |
no no no |
no no no |
Handy | 26 lb | adults | 100 | inside/ |
opt'l | yes |
Eco | 26 lb | adults | 100 | inside/ |
yes | no |
Kubic Kubic Kubic |
30 lb 50 lb 70 lb |
adults adults adults |
120 200 280 |
inside/ inside/ inside/ |
no no no |
no no no |
King | 55 lb | adults | 220 | inside/ |
yes | yes |
6-Port Elbow Feeder | 85 lb | adults | 270 | inside/ |
no | no |
Emperor | 110 lb | adults | 440 | outside | opt'l | no |
Looking for waterers? Refer to our poultry waterer comparison chart.