DIY chicken feeders: photo original ideas. Various ways to make a do-it-yourself chicken feeder from scrap materials Do-it-yourself outdoor chicken feeder

If you are planning to have chickens and have already built a chicken coop for them, then it’s time to think about creating a chicken feeder with your own hands.

It is very easy to make a chicken feeder with your own hands, since you can use a variety of materials to create it. Let's look at the most simple ways to make chicken feeders with your own hands.

Where to start?

You can make your own chicken feeder make from anything. For this you can use boards, boxes, pipes and even plastic bottles.

However, regardless of the material chosen, a problem will arise - mixing the feed. If you make several feeders at once, they will take up a lot of space.

Despite this, there is still a way out of this situation, which will be discussed a little later.

Before you start making a chicken feeder with your own hands, you need to decide on the sizes And choosing a place, on which the future structure will stand. Regardless of whether the feeder will be in the chicken coop or on the street, there should be free access to it. Hens or chicks should not interfere with each other while feeding.

In addition, do not forget that chickens need not only dry, but also wet food. For the first case, bunker feeders for chickens in the form of a cylinder, in which feed is added automatically, can be perfect. Best used for wet food trough-shaped feeders, on top of which a turntable made of timber is installed.

Of course, the process of making a trough with your own hands is different from the process of making a bunker feeder. There is also a significant difference in labor costs.

However, modern equipment and materials greatly simplify the process, thanks to which difficulties will not arise.

Let's take a closer look at how you can make feeders for chickens or chickens with your own hands. from scrap materials.

DIY cutting board feeder

To make such an unusual chicken feeder you will need the following materials:

Cutting board;
Funnel;
Small plastic cup;
Rubber hose;
Electric drill.

To make a feeding device from a cutting board, follow these steps:

The outer contours of the funnel must be outlined on the board. Try to do everything as accurately as possible;
Inside the resulting drawn circle you need to drill many holes using a drill. At the same time, it is important not to overdo it so that the feed supply is limited;
Next, you need to take a pre-prepared transparent hose and connect it to the end of the funnel. If the hose does not sit tightly on the funnel, you can use additional fasteners, for example, a clamp;
Take a plastic cup and make a hole in the side at the very bottom with such a diameter that the end of the hose fits tightly into it and holds well in it;
Take the other end of the hose and insert it into the resulting hole. If the hose is not held tightly in the hole, then its edges and the outer surface of the hose must be treated with sealant;
After this, you need to glue the funnel bell to the board. It is necessary to treat the contour of the circle with sealant;
A funnel is placed on the circle and held in this position until the sealant is completely dry;
Connect one end of the hose to the bowl and the other to the funnel, which is glued to the board. The funnel should be at the bottom of the cutting board.

The chicken feeder is ready. You can add grain. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the board must be stable, since chickens or chickens will sit on it.

The bunker design can be considered automatic, since human participation when feeding chickens or hens will be minimal here.

Hopper feeder You can buy it ready-made in a store, but the cost will be rather high. You can also make the design yourself. The procedure for making a bunker feeder for chickens is very simple.

For manufacturing you will need the following materials:

Plastic bucket;
Sectional bowl for animals.

Step-by-step instructions for making a bunker feeder for chickens and hens:

In the lower part of the plastic bucket, make small holes along the entire diameter in the amount of 6-7 pieces (depending on the number of sections in the bowl), through which the food will pour out;
Attach a sectional bowl to the bottom of the plastic bucket using screws;
Fill a plastic bucket with chicken or chicken feed and close the lid.

The main advantage of such a bunker feeder is that it can be installed almost anywhere. The convenience of this design is that as food is consumed it will automatically flow into the bowl under the influence of its weight.

DIY plastic bottle feeder

Nowadays, water is often stored in plastic containers. Such containers can probably be found in every home and can be used to make chicken feeders with your own hands.

Step-by-step instructions for making a chicken feeder from a plastic bottle:

Cut the plastic bottle in half. It is necessary to make vertical holes in the lower half of the bottle of such a size that a chicken head fits through it;
Take the second bottle and cut out the bottom in it, place the neck down inside the prepared cut. Thus, a few centimeters should remain between the neck and the bottom;
Pour grain or other food inside and cover the top of the bottle with something.

The only disadvantage of this design is that it will have to be moved indoors during bad weather, but such a feeder is ideal for a chicken coop.

For chickens, you can make the same feeder, but smaller. At the same time, the manufacturing technology will remain the same.

You can also make a chicken feeder yourself from ordinary boards. First you need to prepare the following materials:

Thick plywood or wood;
Electric drill, drills;
Loops, 2 pcs;
Sandpaper;
Saw;
Screwdriver;
Simple pencil;
Roulette.

First you need to create a drawing, which is then transferred to the tree. Dimensions of the required elements: bottom - 29x17 cm, sides - height 40 cm with a top edge of 20 cm and a bottom edge of 20 cm, front walls - 28x29 cm and 70x29 cm, top cover - 26x29 cm, back wall - 40x29 cm;
After all the elements are transferred to the boards, they must be carefully cut out;
In some places, use a drill to make holes for screws;
All wood surfaces must be sanded to ensure they are safe for hens and chicks;
Using screws and a screwdriver, connect all the cut out elements together into one structure. To achieve maximum density, you can use a clamp. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the back and front walls must be attached at an angle of 15 degrees;
Using hinges, attach the cover to the back of the side walls;
It is advisable to treat the finished structure with an antiseptic. It is strictly forbidden to use varnishes and paints.

The finished wooden feeder is spacious and comfortable. The feed is well protected from moisture and will be supplied automatically. The only drawback of this design is labor costs.

Also, using wooden boards or pieces of thick plywood, you can easily make feeders in the form of a small trough. This design will be convenient for those who have a large number of chickens and a shelter from bad weather.

Required materials:

Pieces of boards or thick plywood;
Hammer;
Screws or nails;
Saw;
Simple pencil;
Paper;
Ruler.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions:

First you need to make a drawing on paper, according to which the future structure will be made. In this case, it is necessary to accurately determine all the elements, their sizes and the places where the fasteners will be installed. This stage is the most critical, so you should avoid mistakes and inconsistencies;
The drawing is transferred to wood. The dimensions of the elements should be as follows: bottom - 15x100 cm, side walls - 8x100 cm, beam - 2x3x100 cm, end walls 15 cm wide and a height equal to the height of the long side walls + the thickness of the bottom. The most difficult stage in making such a feeder is cutting out the end walls;
Based on the drawn up drawing, it is necessary to cut out all the constituent elements. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the bottom should be quite thick and heavy so that the chickens cannot turn over the finished feeder. The height of the side walls should be comfortable for birds;
All cut out elements must be connected to each other so that there are no gaps left, as food can spill out through them. The finished structure does not require additional processing.

The main advantage of such a feeder is its durability and strength. In addition, it can be used for both dry and wet food. The only drawback is that the structure requires minimal maintenance.

Are you planning to raise chickens and have already built a chicken coop for them? Then it's time to take care of the rest - in particular, the feeder. It is easy to make, especially since you can use various materials. Let's look at the simplest and most common options for making a chicken feeder with your own hands.

Where should I start?

The feeder can be made from anything - for example, from boards, boxes, pipes or plastic bottles. But regardless of the material chosen, one problem always arises - we are talking about mixing the feed. And if you use several feeders at the same time, they will take up too much space. There is a way out of this situation, but we’ll talk about it a little later.

So, in order for the feeder to cope with its functions, you need to prepare for its construction in advance. First, decide on the size of the structure and choose a place for it. It does not matter whether it is located in the chicken coop or in the yard - all birds should have free access to it. Moreover, chickens should not crowd or interfere with each other while feeding.

It should also be remembered that chickens need not only dry, but also wet food (we are talking about mash). In the first case, hopper containers in the form of a cylinder are ideal, in which the volume of feed is replenished automatically. For wet food, a trough-shaped feeder is more suitable, on top of which there is a “spinner” made of timber.

Making a chicken feeder - an overview of popular methods

Of course, the procedure for constructing a trough differs from a bunker-type feeder both in terms of labor costs and the complexity of the work. But modern equipment and materials significantly simplify the process, so there will not be any particular difficulties.

Note! When constructing a feeder, you need to adhere to one important rule: the structure should be stable and food should not spill out of it. Otherwise, not only will there be an overconsumption of feed, but also a violation of sanitary standards.

Option one. Creative feeder made from a cutting board

To make such an unusual bird feeder, you must prepare:

cutting board;
funnel;
a small plastic cup;
rubber hose (transparent);
electric drill.

The further algorithm of actions should look something like this.

Table. Making a feeder from a cutting board

Steps, no.	Photo	Description
Step 1		Take a funnel (preferably plastic) and trace its outer contours on the board. Try to do everything as accurately as possible.
Step 2		Drill many holes within the drawn circle. It is important not to overdo it here, since the supply of dry food should be limited.
Step 3		Take a pre-prepared transparent hose of the required diameter. Connect the hose to the end of the funnel; if necessary, you can use additional fasteners (for example, a clamp).
Step 4		Take a plastic cup and make a hole at the bottom as shown in the image. The diameter of the hole should be such that the end of the hose fits tightly and holds well.
Step 5		Take the other end of the hose and place it in the hole you made. If the density is insufficient, treat the edges of the hole and the outer surface of the hose with sealant.
Step 6		Next, you need to glue the bell of the funnel to the cutting board. To do this, treat the contour of the circle with the holes with sealant.
Step 7		Place a funnel on the circle and hold it in this position until the sealant dries.
Step 8		Connect one end of the hose to the cup and the other to the glued funnel. The funnel should end up at the bottom of the board.

When assembled, the feeder described above will look like this. You can add grain.

Note! The grain will be poured through the hose from the watering can into the cup itself. Also make sure the board is stable as chickens are likely to perch on it.

Option two. Hopper feeder made from a plastic bucket

This design can be considered automatic, since your participation in feeding the chickens will be minimal. Such a feeder can be purchased ready-made in a store, but it will not be cheap, so you can try to make it yourself. The manufacturing procedure is quite simple.

Supplies you will need:

special sectional bowl for animals;
plastic bucket.

After preparation, follow the instructions below.

Step 1. Take a plastic bucket and make holes in the bottom through which the food will pour out (as shown in the image below).

Step 2: Attach the sectional bowl to the bottom of the bucket using screws.

Step 3. Fill a plastic bucket with grain or any other food and close the lid.

The advantage of this design is that it can be installed in almost any convenient place (stand or hang). As food is consumed, it will be automatically poured into the bowl under the influence of its weight.

Option three. Construction made from plastic bottles

Nowadays, water is often stored in cheap plastic containers. There are probably such bottles in every home and they can be used to build a convenient feeder.

Step 1. Cut the bottle in half and make holes in the bottom half as shown in the image. The size of each hole should be sufficient for the chicken head to fit freely into it (it is advisable to leave a small margin).

Step 2. Take the second bottle, cut out the bottom, then place it with the neck down inside the prepared cut. As a result, there should be a few centimeters between the neck and the bottom.

Step 3. Pour the grain inside and cover the hole in the top with something. The disadvantage of this design is that in case of bad weather it must be moved indoors, but for placement inside the poultry house this is the best option.

For chickens, you can make a similar design in smaller sizes using regular plastic bottles. The manufacturing technology will be the same.

Option four. Simple wooden feeder (No. 1)

If you don’t have a lot of chickens, and only pieces of wood from scrap materials, then you can make the feeder described below. The latter is great for cases where owners do not have the opportunity to periodically add grain (in other words, this is also a bunker feeder). It is not difficult to make such a design, the main thing is to strictly follow the instructions below.

First, prepare the following supplies and equipment:

pieces of durable thick plywood or wood;
electric drill, set of drills;
a pair of loops;
sandpaper;
saw;
screwdriver;
pencil;
roulette.

After this, proceed directly to production.

Step 1. Start by creating a drawing, then transfer it to the tree, drawing the elements of the required dimensions:

bottom 29x17 centimeters;
two “sides” 40 centimeters high with an upper edge of 24 and a lower edge of 29 centimeters;
two rectangles for the front wall - 28x29 and 70x29 centimeters;
top cover (26x29 centimeters);
back wall (40x29 centimeters).

Step 2. Carefully cut out all the elements.

Step 3. Make holes for the screws in the required places using an electric drill.

Step 4: Sand all surfaces to ensure they are smooth and safe for birds.

Step 5. Using screws, assemble all the elements into a single structure. To achieve maximum density, you can use a clamp. It is also important that the back and front walls are attached at an angle of 15°.

Step 6. Using hinges, attach the cover to the back of the side panels.

Step 7. It is also advisable to treat the feeder with an antiseptic. No paints or varnish should be used.

Note! The finished design will be spacious and convenient; food, protected from moisture, will be gradually supplied automatically. Apart from labor costs, no other shortcomings were noticed.

Option five. Simple wooden feeder (No. 2)

Another simple option is a feeder made in the form of a small trough. It is suitable for those who have a large number of chickens and have a shelter in case of precipitation.

To work you will need:

thick boards or plywood;
hammer;
screws (you can use nails instead);
saw;
pencil;
paper;
ruler.

Step 1. First, make a drawing of the future structure. Determine as accurately as possible all elements, their dimensions and installation locations of fasteners. This is the most critical stage, which will help to avoid possible mistakes and inconsistencies.

bottom (15x100 centimeters);
a pair of side walls (8x100 centimeters);
one beam (HxWxD - 2x3x100 centimeters);
small end walls 15 centimeters wide and a height corresponding to the long side walls + the thickness of the bottom.

Sawing out the end walls is the most difficult step. For a better idea, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the image below.

Step 3. In accordance with the drawing, cut out each of the elements.

Note! The bottom should be thick and heavy enough to prevent birds from overturning the structure. The height of the walls should be comfortable for the chickens.

Step 4. Connect all the elements together. Try not to leave any gaps, as food can spill out through them. Additional wood processing is not required; moreover, if desired, this design can be modified to suit your own needs.

The advantages of such a feeder include durability and strength, as well as versatility regarding the type of food used (the latter can be either dry or wet). As for the disadvantages, there is only one - the feeder needs minimal care.

Option six. Two-story wooden feeder

The next option is intended primarily for dry food (although various mash can be used). Ideal for small rooms, as the second tier compensates for the lack of free space. For work you will need screws and bars.

Step 1. First, prepare all the elements of the feeder. The main one will be the lower tier, the height of which should be 25 and the width 26 centimeters. As for the length, it depends on the number of birds.

Step 2. Make special grooves into which the damper will be inserted.

Step 3. The second floor will be a small trough with a board height of 10 centimeters. Place the second floor on the ends of the first, then attach with hinges.

Option seven. PVC pipe construction

An easy-to-implement option that requires minimal expense and effort. PVC pipes are sold everywhere and are inexpensive. To make, use one of the methods below.

Method one. With cutouts

To build this structure, take care of the following consumables:

a pair of PVC pipes (40 and 60 centimeters in length);
two plugs;
connecting elbow.

The 60 cm pipe will be installed horizontally and will serve to feed the pizzas. Another pipe is installed vertically and is necessary for feeding grain. Start by making a hole in a longer pipe, although instead they often make one large one, through which the birds will peck the grain.

Step 1. On a 60-centimeter pipe, draw holes with a diameter of 7 centimeters and with the same spacing.

Step 2. Cut out the traced holes.

Cutouts can be oval

Step 3. Place a plug on one end of the pipe.

Step 4. Install an elbow on the second end, and, in turn, insert another pipe into it.

Step 5. Secure the resulting structure in the poultry house, preferably in two or three places at once, so that it holds well.

After each addition of grain, put a second cap on top to prevent debris from getting inside. The described design is also a bunker design, so feed can be added only once or twice a day.

Method two. With tee

In this case, for production you will need:

PVC pipes selected by size (70, 20 and 10 centimeters);
two plugs;
tee with an angle of 45°.

Step 1. Take a 20cm pipe and place a cap on one end. This will be the bottom of the feeder.

Step 2. Place a tee on the other end of this pipe so that the side elbow is directed upward.

Step 3: Insert a small pipe into the side hole.

Step 4. Insert the longest length of pipe into the third hole of the tee. Here, as in the previous method, after each filling of feed the pipe must be closed with a plug.

There are other ways to make a bird feeder from PVC pipes, as experienced poultry farmers talk about in the video below.

Video - Feeder made of pipe

Option eight. Canister construction

A cheap and easy way to make a feeder.

For work, prepare:

any plastic canister;
a piece of pipe 10-15 centimeters in length;
fasteners;

Step 1: Clean and dry the canister thoroughly.

Step 2. Using a knife or any other tool, cut about 5 holes on the sides. The diameter of the holes should be about 6-7 centimeters so that the head of the chickens can fit freely into them.

Step 3. Make a hole in the top for filling grain and attach a pipe on top (the diameters must match). This will prevent birds from getting inside.

To protect against rain and debris, you can additionally take care of the pipe cover.

Option nine. CD container design

Don't throw away your old CD container - you can still use it to feed your chickens!

In order to build such a structure, prepare:

long container;
large bowl;

Step 1. Clean and dry the container, then cut three or four 2x2 centimeter holes on its walls near the rim.

Step 2. Fill the container with food and cover the top with a bowl.

Step 3. Turn the container with the bowl over and place it in the desired location.

Note! Make sure that there are no sharp corners in the cut areas that could injure the chickens.

We also note that this design is not durable and is designed for a small number of birds.

Option ten. Automatic design

The video below shows another interesting option - a structure that opens under the weight of the chicken.

Video - Automatic feeder

This is not a complete list of possible options - the article describes only the most popular of them. By showing ingenuity and imagination, you can come up with your own design, the main thing is that the product is durable and safe for feathered pets.

Feeding chickens takes a lot of time, but this responsibility cannot be neglected. To simplify work in the chicken coop, different types of feeders were invented. Hopper feeders for chickens have a lot of positive qualities, they are really convenient and easy to use. The article will describe the characteristics of these feeders, their advantages, possible disadvantages, and also provide recommendations on how to make them with your own hands.

What is a bunker feeder?

The bunker feeder for feeding birds is a structure consisting of two parts.

The bunker is the first element - a container into which grain is poured and where it is stored.
The tray is the second element - a container into which the grain is poured and from which the chickens eat.

There is a hole in the top of the bunker into which food is poured; it is always closed with a lid of any type so that the birds do not try to climb inside.

Such feeders are made from different materials, they can be of different shapes, types, types. They are sold everywhere, but you can build such a feeder yourself, which will be discussed below.

Advantages of bunker feeders

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Hopper feeders for chickens have many positive qualities.

Purity. Due to the fact that the grain is in a separate, closed container, it is always clean and does not get dirty.
The breeder can add bird food much less frequently once every 1-3 days. Some people even provide food for the birds a week in advance; this is very convenient if, for example, you need to be away for a long time and there is no one to look after the birds.
The variety of shapes and sizes of structures allows you to choose the appropriate option in each individual case.
It is not difficult to remove such feeders if you make them removable and not stationary.

Are there any disadvantages?

The main problem with a bunker feeder is the unlimited supply of feed. On the one hand, this makes life easier for the breeder, but on the other hand, it can lead to obesity in the bird. This is exactly what breeders fear and it is for this reason that they rarely purchase a bunker design for adult individuals. Indeed, a bird can overeat, especially if it is prone to obesity, so it is necessary to purchase such a feeder either for chickens or for breeds that are not prone to overeating.

It is also important to note that if the coop is damp, all the feed can be blocked and begin to rot right in the bunker. Such food is very harmful, so you need to wash such a dish regularly, check for odor inside and place it only in dry rooms.

Another problem associated with the regular presence of food in the chicken coop is mice and rats. They will enjoy unlimited access to food no less than chickens, so it is necessary to poison rodents from time to time.

How to choose a feeder in a store?

A lot of bunker types of chicken feeders are sold in stores. But how to choose a good design in each individual case?

How to make a bunker feeder with your own hands?

The popularity of bunker-type feeders for chickens has led to a rush on them from inventors. There are so many designs you can assemble with your own hands that you can’t see on the Internet! So, if you don’t have the money to buy such a thing, you can make it yourself from anything!

The first option is a wide pipe (sewer), bent on one side at an angle of 90 degrees. You just need to attach it to the wall (5-6 pipes are placed nearby) with the curved side down. The food is poured from above and pours down, and due to the fact that the pipe is curved, it does not fall down, but remains in the pipe and the birds simply eat it.
In an old plastic bucket, holes are made in the bottom area. Then take a not very deep container (for a tray) and place a bucket in it so that the holes made are at the bottom. Now you can use the design for its intended purpose. Grain is poured inside, the bucket is closed on top with a lid, and feed is poured into the tray as the chickens peck at it.
Hopper feeders for chickens can also be made from wood or chipboard. It’s true that making such a feeder is much more difficult, but the design will be more reliable. Essentially, you need to build a box where the grain will be poured, make a hole at the bottom and attach a feeder (tray) made by yourself from the same wood to it. After that you can try it out.
The simplest and most accessible design is made from plastic bottles: the bottom is cut off, placed in a bowl, several holes are made in the bottle so that the grain can spill out - that's all. But such a feeder is unreliable and can easily fall apart, so it is used only for feeding chickens.

If desired, you can use other materials and manufacturing methods, the main thing is that the main function of the feeder is respected - supplying food as you eat what is in the tray.

Raising chickens is quite an interesting activity. For many decades, it has been providing citizens with environmentally friendly food products (eggs and meat), and also provides the opportunity to earn money from their sale.

But to achieve success in this difficult undertaking, you need to well prepare the future place for it, since the health of the birds and the quality of the products that can be obtained from them depend on this device.

How to properly make a chicken feeder with your own hands and in what ways this can be done will be discussed in detail in this article.

There are not so many requirements that a feeder for laying hens must meet, however, they should be adhered to when the preparatory work begins:

The strength of the material from which the feeder is made. Such material should have minimal possibility of deformation and damage during operation.
The material should also not have harmful properties that could negatively affect the condition of the chickens during the process.
A container for feeding chickens, made of a certain type of material, must be used for a specific type of feed.
Such a device for chickens should ensure rational use of feed. That is, the food container must be shaped in such a way that its size does not allow chickens to climb into it and scatter food, as well as “relieve themselves” there. To achieve this, you need to take care of installing protective sides, turntables and other devices to the feeder. This will cover the bulk of the feed. In addition, you need to give the feeder a stable shape so that the birds cannot knock it over.
The feeder should be easy to maintain. You will have to fill the food container every day, as well as wash and clean it regularly. All these procedures should not cause any difficulties for the chicken breeder, and caring for chickens should not cause trouble. That is why it is necessary to make a feeder that is light in weight and has a non-bulky shape, which can then be quickly cleaned and put in order for further use.
The feed container must be made of optimal size, that is, its volume must be suitable for feeding the poultry population for a whole day. At the same time, the amount of feed in the feeder for each chicken is 10-15 cm in length, and for this purpose it is necessary to reduce this norm by 2 times.
In addition, the form of the device should be designed so that all chickens have equal access to it, in order to prevent stronger birds from crowding out weaker individuals.

Types of chicken feeders

There are several types of chicken feeders. They all have both their advantages and disadvantages.

Depending on the material used

First, you need to identify several types of feeders, depending on the material from which they are made:

Wooden.
Metal.
Plastic.
Metal rods in the form of a mesh.

Wooden feeders are perfect for feeding dry food (grain, various mineral supplements), so they are far from a universal option. To make such a feeder with your own hands, it is better to have other feeding devices. However, wood is a very durable material that will ensure the longevity of the product.

Those made of metal or plastic are used for wet mixed food and it is much easier to wash it from such a surface than from wood.

Therefore, the most universal feeders are metal or plastic. But here you should carefully choose the material to avoid its fragility or harmfulness.

As for the feeder in the form of a mesh of twigs, it is perfect for feeding green grass to birds. That is, in addition to such a feeder, there should be another one suitable for daily feeding.

Depending on the type of feed supplied

There are also several types of feeders based on the type of feed supply:

Tray feeders are flat containers that are equipped with special sides. Due to them, birds will not be able to scatter food. These containers are very suitable for feeding.
Grooved feeders have additions in the form of a pinwheel or grid for restriction (it can be removed). And inside this container is divided into several compartments to accommodate different types of food. The advantage of this type of feeder is that it can be placed outside the boundaries of the cages, and this will simplify the process of feeding and cleaning the container.
Hopper feeders are used to feed chickens with dry food. The main advantage of the bunker is that you can pour grain or mixed feed into it in the morning and this volume will be quite enough to feed the chickens for the whole day. You will only need to worry about the next portion the next day. In addition, the feed from the hopper comes into the trays as needed, it has a closed shape, which does not allow the feed to become dirty or wet.

Depending on the location in the chicken coop

And finally, depending on the placement of the feeder in the cage or house, it can be:

Floor-standing, it is more mobile because it can be placed in any part of the “house” for chickens;
A hanging one, which is placed around the entire perimeter of the cage or chicken coop, and is attached to special brackets or holding devices; you can make them yourself.

How to make a chicken feeder?

Undoubtedly, there is a wide variety of different devices for feeding chickens on sale. But you can easily make your own feeder from scrap materials, knowing a clear algorithm of actions. Next, we will show how to make containers for chicken feed from various materials.

Hopper feeder

What is it? Its design is very simple: it is a bunker for food and a tray into which it will flow evenly.

We offer you several drawings of bunker feeders for chickens:

To make it you will need:

Plastic bucket or plastic bottle;
A cutting object that can be used to make a hole in a container.

When making a bunker feeder from a bucket, you need to make a round hole in it and give it the appearance of an “entrance” in the form of a short pipe of such a size that a chicken’s head can easily fit there. In this case, the whole bird will not be able to fit into the tray, and the food will pour out evenly from the hopper.

If you make a container from a bottle, you need to take a large bottle (5 liters) and cut off its neck so that you can pour food on top. The bottle must be placed in the tray and filled with food. When the chickens eat the feed, it will pour out of the hopper evenly again.

Wooden feeder

Wooden feeders are usually made of plywood. They are considered more durable and solid.

They can also be either hopper or tray type.

Look at several drawings with the dimensions of various feeders made of wood:

How to make a wooden device in the form of a tray?

For this you will need:

board or thick plywood;
nails or screw;
paper and pencil;
ruler;
saw;
hammer.

The manufacturing algorithm is as follows:

Before you start work, you need to take care of the drawing of the future device. It is necessary to take into account all the details, parameters, and calculate the dimensions of the final product. Indicate the places where the components of the feeder will be attached. High-quality elaboration of the drawing will allow you to avoid errors in manufacturing and then the resulting structure will not have to be redone.
It is necessary to take the components - these are 2 side walls 100x8 cm long, 1 piece of the bottom. and size 100x15 cm, 1 beam 100 cm long, 3 cm wide, and 2 cm high. The most difficult thing is to cut out two small side walls, to which the beam is then nailed on top. Width - 15 cm, the height of the edges should be equal to the long sides, taking into account the thickness of the bottom.
Then, following the drawn drawing, you need to cut out the necessary parts from the wood. The walls of the feeder should be of such a height that the chickens cannot scatter the food with their paws, but at the same time can freely reach the food with their heads. And the bottom must be of sufficient thickness and have significant weight so that the feeder does not tip over.
Next you need to fasten all the parts using nails and fasteners. When connecting wooden pieces, do not allow holes and cracks through which grain and other feed can spill out. There is no need to treat the wood with anything additional.

Automatic feeder

Its principle is similar to the design of a bunker feeder.

Here is a drawing of one interesting design in which an automatic feeder is combined with:

The easiest way to make such a feeder is from three plastic bottles of mineral water, sparkling water, etc. This is the number of bottles that is suitable for an adult bird. You will need two 5 liter bottles and one 3 liter bottle. The container must have thick walls.

The algorithm for making an automatic feeder is as follows:

Take one five-liter bottle and cut it in half. Its upper part will not be useful in the future, so you can safely throw it away.
At the bottom of the bottle you need to make 5 square holes (5 by 5 cm) around its entire circumference. They should be cut with a sharp knife at the height of the first rib from the bottom.
Cut off the top part with the neck from a three-liter bottle. It will make a convenient funnel through which you can pour food into a second 5 liter bottle.

How to feed chickens through such a feeder? You need to take a whole 5-liter bottle with half-filled food and, carefully turning it over without spilling the contents, place it with its neck on the bottom in the first bottle with holes around the circumference. As a result, the food will pour itself into the second bottle, from which the birds will be fed.

From the pipe

In order to make a feeder from a pipe, you will need the following materials:

PVC pipe, diameter 16 cm;
plastic parts - “knee”;
two plugs.

To determine the length of the pipe, you need to estimate how much feed you plan to put into it. Such a feeder should be of medium size, otherwise it will be unstable.

How to make a device from a pipe:

the PVC pipe needs to be cut into two parts, one of them is 50 cm, and the other is smaller;
these parts are connected using a plastic elbow part;
in the second part of the pipe you need to use a drill to cut a hole on both sides with a circular crown. The radius of the hole is 4 cm;
at the end it is necessary to cover the pipes with plugs.

Hanging

The easiest way to make a hanging feeder is from a plastic bucket with a handle, with a volume of 5 liters or more, and a shallow plastic plate or bowl, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the bottom of the bucket.

At a height of approximately 6-8 cm from the bottom of the bucket, you need to make holes, similar to those made for an automatic feeder, around the entire circumference of the container. Next, the bucket from the bottom is attached to a plastic plate, which serves as a kind of tray, and the bucket is suspended from the net by the handle.

Food is poured into the bucket, which also, quite evenly, then goes into the tray from which the birds can eat it.

Where to install a chicken feeder?

If chickens spend more time outside, in a specially designated place, then it is better to install feeders there, because when they spend the night “under the roof,” the birds do not eat or drink. And there the feeder is simply not useful.

If the chickens are mainly in the chicken coop, then it is better to place the feed devices in it on elevations, or hang them, but at a short distance from the floor, so that it is convenient for the chickens to approach and peck the food.