Do it Yourself Chicken Feeders

While a chicken will eat off the ground, it's better to have a feeder.

Chickens need to eat every day and usually eat a form of chicken feed in crumbles or pellets. Keeping a steady supply of chicken feed available usually requires an automatic feeder. Making your own chicken feeder is relatively easy and cheap. You can make your chicken feeder with a 5 gallon bucket usually made for oils or other food-grade items and available from restaurants for little or no money. Add a oil pan or round feeder larger than the base of the bucket, and you have a cheap feeder.

Things You'll Need

• 5 gallon bucket
• Oil pan or low feeder pan (at least 1 inch wider in circumference than the bucket bottom)
• Tape measure
• Drill and drill bits
• Nut and bolt
• Chicken feed

Instructions

1. Drill six holes at even distances around the bottom of your 5 gallon bucket. Drill them 1/2 inch above the bottom of the bucket and make them at least 1/2 inch to 1 inch in diameter.

2. Drill a hole the width of the bolt in the center of the bottom of the bucket.

3. Drill a hole the width of the bolt in the center of the oil or feeder pan.

4. Set the 5 gallon bucket upright in the oil/feeder pan and screw together with the nut and bolt.

5. Place your feeder in the coop and pour chicken feed into it. Feed will automatically dispense from the holes.

Tips & Warnings

• If the feed is too large for the dispensing holes, widen the holes.

• A lid for your 5 gallon bucket will help keep dust, dirt and droppings out of the feed.

References

• Backyardchickens.com: Water-feeder Chicken Coops
• Mother Earth News: Hang Your Chicken Feed