If you’re looking for an
automatic chicken feeder, you’re probably trying to solve several
problems at once. Automatic feeders make it easier to leave the
flock alone for a few days (or just to cut back on your chicken
chores), but poorly designed feeders introduce a slew of other problems
such as spoiled, spilled, or stolen feed. The feeders profiled
here are the best I’ve seen so far for preventing automatic feeder
problems.
Storebought
feeders
The majority of our
readers agree that treadle
chicken feeders are
the best option if you have the cash (or time to build your own.
Linda Cariri took the photo above of her hen eating from Grandpa’s
Feeder ($210).
Other purchased options
include programmable
pet feeders and the cheap gravity feeders you can find in most feed
stores. The
previous link also includes a lot of tips for making low budget options
less wasteful of feed.
Homemade
gravity feeders
Darren Simmons’ PVC
pipe feeder (shown
to the left) is the winner of our automatic
chicken feeder contest because we feel like it is easily replicable
and will do the job better than any of the other options. Follow
the link for complete construction tips.
Alternatively, if you
simply want to save some cash and are willing to put up with the
problems posed by cheap gravity feeders, these
homemade versions
may hit the spot. Or check out this weatherproof
gravity chicken feeder.
The
best is yet to come?
Even though I like the
automatic chicken feeders that have come across my desk so far, I think
an even better solution is out there. If you’ve found it, feel
free to email your design to info@avianaquamiser.com so we can show it to our
readers. Thanks for sharing!
low-work chicken coop with an automatic chicken waterer, available with heated
options for easy winter care.
Hey, is that a silver laced Wyandotte in the upper photo? I got a single odd chick and that’s what I think she is- she looks like the photo. My granddaughter named her Hermoine, after Harry Potter…
This comment doesn’t necessarily apply to this post, but I wanted to tell you that I slaughtered my first bird today, using the instructions in your book ,Eating the Working Chicken. I have never killed and dressed any kind of animal before, I’m not sure I even cut up a whole bird ever, or at least not in recent memory. I was able to do it following the book, which I have in ebook form, and had to prop my iPad on my worktable so I could refer to it during the process. ( and then had to disinfect the screen from having to constantly refresh screen and turn pages!)
It wasn’t perfect, but I managed, and didn’t nick any internals.. I was surprised how quickly the carcass got really stiff, but it is only in the 40’s today, and the rinsing water that comes from our well is quite cold. So, thanks for writing the book and making the Instructions and photos easy to follow.
It wasn’t enjoyable, nor do I think it should be, but there is a certain strength that comes from knowing how to do this, and doing it, and a sense of connectedness with the whole circle of life.
Ps. This is an older bird. I have read that marinating the bird in a brine overnight produces a much more tender and moist meat when roasted. That’s my plan.
Pss. The biggest takeaway from this is that I need a better knife. Anyone have suggestions on a good basic knife for slaughter? Thanks.
Deb — I’m not positive, but I think the photo at the top of this post is a Speckled Sussex.
I’m so glad the ebook could help! We’re still searching for the best slaughtering knife ourselves, so hopefully someone else will chime in. Meanwhile, you might enjoy these posts about cooking old chickens so they’ll end up tender and then how to use the meat.
I agree that killing chickens isn’t precisely fun, but it can be a spiritual experience. Welcome to the food chain!
Great posts! I might try the Dutch oven! I am p,anning on purchasing a solar cooker also, and I think that might work as well, as it cooks at a lower heat.
Thanks!