Chickens aren’t choosy when it comes to feeding time.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!They really don’t care if you dumped their food on the ground, they would still eat and make a lot of mess while doing it!
Feeders are pieces of equipment that are used to feed birds by placing feed in them. They can be traditional or semi-automatic, and they also come in variety of styles and shapes, and they can also be of metal or plastic material.
Before you can get a chicken feeder, you have to make sure it has the following features;
- Easy to set up
- Easy to clean
- Prevents waste and mess
- Pest proof
- Water proof
- Reasonable/Affordable price
Chicken feeders comes in two materials; the metal and the plastic. The metal is said to be far better than the plastic but it is becoming more scarce
Plastic is becoming more common because it is cheap to mass produce, it is also easy to clean and maintain. It is quite durable and will last a long time, but even will eventually break or crack probably due to sun or harsh winter.
However, both types will see you through a couple of years at least before you have to replace them.
Why do I need chicken feeders?
The main reason why all chicken needs feeders is so that;
- Waste can be minimized.
- Food is kept clean and fresh.
- Monitor how much they eat.
- Controls how they eat.
- It also keeps the area clean.
The category of feeders includes commercial poultry feeders and simple homemade for backyard chicken farming. There are several poultry feeders;
- Automatic feeder
- Rectangular wooden feeders
- Metallic feeders
- Tray Feeders
- Round/ Circular feeders
- Automatic chicken feeders
This feeders are widely used on modern poultry farms mostly on a large commercial scale. It is best to use this type of feeder when you have a large number of chicken. This feeder is programmed such that feed is deposited to the birds without human effort. The only challenge this feeder has is power. It needs regular maintenance to be in good shape.
- Rectangular wooden feeders
This feeder falls under DIY (Do It Yourself) feeder. The advantage of this feeder is the large window size it provides to accommodate many birds at a time. This wooden feeders are so common and can easily be made for backyard chicken farming
- Metallic feeders
Metallic feeders are very common in poultry production and that’s because it lasts very long, its easy to clean and gives a wider window size so the chickens can feed well.
- Tray Feeders
This type of feeder is the best feeder for day old chicks. It allows them to roam freely as they learn to pick up feed as starters. This product offers a hygienic feeding solution to help prevent infections in the early stage.
The feeder also has an anti-slip pattern on the tray’s bottom that keeps the chickens from stumbling or falling.
- Round/Circular poultry feeders
The last on the list is the round or circular feeder that comes with restrainers. If the chickens waste a lot of feeds, this type of feeder is recommended, you can also purchase this feeder from our online store. This feeder has small feed section to prevent chickens sitting on top of food.
These types are very affordable and easy to set up either inside or outside the coop. Many come with rain guards to prevent food from getting wet.
Keeping your chickens healthy and well fed is not always easy. The best way to avoid this problem is to make sure they have access to a poultry feeder, this will make you provide a constant supply of the right food in the right amounts.
