Poultry Feeding: Troughs and automatic feeders for your flock

Poultry Feeding: Clean feed, less waste

When it comes to poultry feeding, it is not only about what goes into the dish but also how. Chickens love to scratch, scatter grain through the straw and quickly soil open feed with droppings. With the right troughs and feeders the feed stays clean, dry and within reach of your birds at all times. At the same time, less of it ends up in the bedding or with rats and sparrows, which saves money over the year.

Trough or feeder?

A trough with a feeding grid is ideal for chicks, mixed feed and wet mash that you put out fresh every day. The grid stops the birds from climbing in and scratching the feed out. A poultry feeder holds a larger supply and releases grain or pellets bit by bit. That means you do not have to refill it every day, and your hens can eat whenever they like. Many keepers combine the two: a feeder for the daily basic ration and a trough for treats, greens or chick feed.

Protecting feed from pests and weather

If the feeding spot is out in the run, rain protection and a treadle lid are a real help. The lid only opens when a hen steps onto the treadle, so rats and wild birds stay out. Legs or a hanging fitting bring the feed up to back height, which means less is soiled and spilled. For quail and chicks there are smaller models with suitable feeding spaces. Place feeding spots so that lower-ranking hens can also eat in peace, ideally with a second station in larger flocks.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to put a poultry feeder?
Inside the coop or under a roof the feed stays dry and attracts fewer wild birds. Raise it off the ground and do not place it directly under the perches, so no droppings fall in.

How do I stop chickens from flicking feed out?
Hang the feeder so the feeding tray sits at about the back height of your hens. A grid or an inward-curved lip also stops feed from landing on the floor.

How often should I clean feed troughs?
Troughs with wet mash or chick feed are best cleaned every day. Empty feeders completely from time to time when refilling and remove old, damp leftovers so no mould forms.