How to make a chicken feeder with your own hands from scrap materials, drawings

Feeding chickens when breeding poultry takes first place in terms of financial costs and labor costs. To make the process easier and save money, you should think about building chicken feeders with your own hands. There are several options that differ in the type of construction and materials used.

Requirements for chicken feeders

Regardless of the type of feeder, it must meet a number of requirements. Standard conditions include:

1. Strength. For manufacturing, it is worth using materials that hold a given shape or are not subject to deformation at all.
2. Convenience. Food should be easily placed inside the feeder, and the food should be easy for the birds to eat.
3. Capacity. In the chicken coop you can place one large feeder or several small ones to feed the entire flock.
4. Sustainability. The structure should not tip over or fall to the side during feeding.

Types of structures

All options for chicken feeders can be divided into categories. The designs differ from each other in the material of manufacture, the method of supplying food and placement in the chicken coop.

By material

You can build a feeder from various materials that meet standard requirements for strength and safety. Most often, farmers make structures from polypropylene pipes, plastic, wood and improvised materials.

According to the method of feeding

Depending on the method of dispensing feed to birds, bunker and auger structures are distinguished. The bunker consists of two containers - grain is poured into the first, and it is stored there, and if necessary to feed the chickens, the grain is poured into the second container, access to which is always open. In the bunker container there is a hole on top for pouring food, closed with a lid.

The auger design involves feeding grain using a rotating auger, which is a spiral pusher. The best option would be a modern feeder with an automated auger mechanism.

By location

The easiest way to place homemade structures is on the floor of the chicken coop. It is also possible to install structures into walls, which will give them maximum stability.

Blueprints

Before you begin the actual manufacture of the feeder, you should prepare a drawing plan. It indicates the type of construction, method and location of placement, materials used and exact dimensions.

Options for homemade chicken feeders

Most farmers prefer to make structures from improvised materials. This allows you to save money on building materials and simplify the work process.

From a cutting board

For this method you will need to prepare a wooden board, a plastic container, a funnel and a hose. The manufacturing process includes the following steps:

1. The outer contour of the funnel is drawn on the board and many small holes are drilled within the outline.
2. A transparent hose is connected to the end of the funnel. For reliability, you can use additional clamps.
3. A hole is made at the bottom of the plastic container into which the second end of the hose is placed. If the connection density is insufficient, the edges of the container and the hose itself are treated with sealant.
4. The bell of the funnel is glued to a board with holes.
5. To feed the birds, grain is poured into a container, and it is fed in portions through holes in the board.

From a plastic bucket

At the bottom of the plastic bucket, holes are made on the visible part. A sectional bowl is secured to the bottom of the bucket using standard screws. When you pour food into the bucket, it will spill out through the holes. This method is convenient in that the grain will be supplied automatically as the laying hens eat it.

From plastic bottles

There are two ways to make a structure from a 5-liter plastic bottle. The easiest way is to make holes around the perimeter of the bottom and pour the grain into the neck, and place any container underneath. In the second case, enlarged square holes are made in the container so that the chicken can stick its head inside.

Made of wood

You can build a rectangular feeder from slats or wooden boards of any size. The optimal size of blanks for the side walls is 150 x 10 cm and 20 x 15 cm. For additional strength, a wide rail is nailed into the top of the feeder so that birds do not climb inside the feeder.

Two-story wooden feeder

This variety is suitable for use in small chicken coops, since the presence of a second tier compensates for the lack of free space. Wooden structures should be installed in rooms where there is minimal risk of moisture penetration, since contact with water destroys the material. The structure is made according to the standard instructions described in the process of creating a one-story feeder, after which the second tier is attached to the ends of the first and secured with hinges.

From PVC pipes

The option using PVC pipes is easy to implement and requires minimal costs. The material is sold everywhere and is cheap.

With cutouts

To build this structure, you will need 2 pipes 40 and 60 cm long, a pair of plugs and a connecting elbow. A long pipe is installed horizontally and a hole is made in it, from which the chickens will peck the grain. An elbow is fixed at one end, and a pipe is installed at the other. After filling the grain, the ends of the sewer pipes are covered with plugs to prevent debris from getting inside.

With a tee (feeder or drinking bowl)

In this case, you need a pipe 20 cm long, with a plug attached to the end. A tee is attached to the other end so that the knee ends up looking up. A small tube 10 cm long is placed in the side hole. A long tube 70 cm is inserted into the third free hole.

From a canister

To make a feeder from a canister, you need to rinse and dry the container well. Then use a knife to make 5-6 holes on the side of such a size that the chicken’s head can fit inside. A hole is made on top for filling the feed and the pipe is secured so that the birds do not climb completely into the feeder.

From a CD container

Cut 2-3 rectangular holes near the rim of the container and fill the container with grain. Then all that remains is to screw the bottom part and turn the disc container over. The food will be poured out as it is consumed.

Automatic

One of the automatic design options involves opening the lid under the weight of the chickens. To do this, the cover and the step are connected in such a way that the pressure causes the mechanism to operate. This method allows you to protect the food from moisture and foreign debris.

Specifics of homemade chicken feeders for chickens

The main design feature for chicks is their size. Chicks need less food, and the dimensions of the feeder may be smaller than those of adult birds.

Because chickens are very active, drinkers and feeders need to be stable, durable and safe to use.