Best Chicken Feeders
Updated How we research
A feeder decides how much of your feed a chicken actually eats and how many birds can reach it at once. Flocks run on a pecking order, so a single narrow port pushes lower-ranked hens to the back and keeps them waiting. Designs vary in port count, hopper capacity, whether rain and rodents can get in, and how much feed birds fling out while billing through it looking for their favorite bits. We weighed feeding space per bird, waste control, hopper size against how often you want to refill, weather protection for outdoor mounting, and whether the unit comes apart for cleaning. Simple hanging feeders suit small flocks under cover. Port and treadle designs suit keepers fighting waste or wild birds. Larger hoppers suit anyone who travels and needs several days of capacity in one fill.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Little Giant Hanging Metal Poultry Feeder, Galvanized Steel Feed Container with Hanging Handle, 40 Pound. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:KHEARPSL Galvanized Steel Chicken Feeder, Rainproof Hanging Poultry Feeder Trough with Lid, Holds 25 lbs. Value score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Farm Basics Galvanized Steel Poultry Feeder, Heavy Duty 30" Trough with Removable Scratch Guard. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Feature-rich:KHEARPSL Galvanized Chicken Feeder, Hanging Gravity Feeder with Lid, Holds 8 Lbs of Feed. Features score of 7/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Little Giant Hanging Metal Poultry Feeder, Galvanized Steel Feed Container with Hanging Handle, 40 Pound
Little Giant's 40 Pound galvanized steel hanging poultry feeder with a handle, built for large flocks.
Our score8.6/10Budget
KHEARPSL Galvanized Steel Chicken Feeder, Rainproof Hanging Poultry Feeder Trough with Lid, Holds 25 lbs
KHEARPSL's rainproof galvanized steel hanging trough feeder with a lid that holds 25 lbs of feed.
Our score8.4/10Budget
#1Little Giant's 40 Pound galvanized steel hanging poultry feeder with a handle, built for large flocks.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + 40 Pound capacity means fewer refills for a big flock
- + Galvanized steel resists rodents chewing through it
- + Hanging handle keeps feed off the ground and away from droppings
- - Very heavy when full, so it needs a strong beam to hang from
- - Open pan lets birds flick some feed out onto the floor
#2KHEARPSL's rainproof galvanized steel hanging trough feeder with a lid that holds 25 lbs of feed.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Rainproof lid helps keep pellets dry in outdoor runs
- + 25 lbs capacity covers several days for a medium flock
- + Steel construction stands up to rats and rough use
- - Heavy when full, so hang it from a solid support
- - Trough edge still allows some feed flicking waste
#3Farm Basics' heavy duty 30 inch galvanized steel trough feeder with a removable scratch guard.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Removable scratch guard reduces birds kicking out feed
- + 30 inch trough lets many hens eat at once without crowding
- + Heavy duty galvanized steel handles years of use
- - Ground trough can collect bedding and droppings
- - Takes more floor space than a hanging tube feeder
#4KHEARPSL's galvanized hanging gravity feeder with a lid, holding 8 Lbs of feed for small flocks.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8 Lbs size is easy to lift and refill for a few hens
- + Lid keeps feed cleaner and discourages wild birds
- + Galvanized body holds up to weather and pecking
- - Small capacity needs refilling often for bigger flocks
- - Lighter feeders can swing if birds jostle while eating
#5Miller's 9112 12 lb galvanized hanging poultry feeder, a classic, simple feeder for backyard hens.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 12 lb capacity is a practical middle size for small flocks
- + Galvanized finish is durable and easy to wipe clean
- + Proven, simple design from a long-running farm supply brand
- - No lid, so feed can get wet if hung outside the coop
- - Open base allows some waste from scratching birds
#6Harris Farms' 1000293 galvanized metal hanging poultry feeder with 15 lbs capacity for everyday use.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 15 lbs holds enough to feed a few hens for days
- + All-metal body resists rodents better than plastic feeders
- + Hanging design keeps feed at a clean, adjustable height
- - No rain lid listed, so keep it under cover
- - Metal edges can dent if dropped or knocked around
#7SummerHawk Ranch's vintage teal galvanized hanging chicken feeder with a 15 lb capacity.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Vintage teal finish looks charming in a backyard coop
- + 15 lb capacity suits small to medium flocks
- + Galvanized construction stays tough outdoors
- - Decorative finish costs more than plain galvanized feeders
- - No lid listed, so feed should hang under cover
#8Little Giant's 20 in heavy duty plastic poultry trough feeder with wide spacing between feeding holes.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Wide spacing lets birds feed without heads bumping
- + Plastic trough is light and easy to scrub clean
- + 20 in length serves a small group of hens at once
- - Plastic can crack in cold weather or get chewed by rodents
- - Floor trough is easier for birds to foul than a hanging feeder
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Very heavy when full, so it needs a strong beam to hang from (Little Giant Hanging Metal Poultry Feeder,...)
- Heavy when full, so hang it from a solid support (KHEARPSL Galvanized Steel Chicken Feeder,...)
- Ground trough can collect bedding and droppings (Farm Basics Galvanized Steel Poultry Feeder,...)
- Small capacity needs refilling often for bigger flocks (KHEARPSL Galvanized Chicken Feeder, Hanging...)
- No lid, so feed can get wet if hung outside the coop (Miller 9112 12 lb Galvanized Hanging Poultry...)
- No rain lid listed, so keep it under cover (Harris Farms 1000293 Galvanized Hanging...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among chicken feeders?
Little Giant Hanging Metal Poultry Feeder, Galvanized Steel Feed Container with Hanging Handle, 40 Pound is our top overall pick. Little Giant's 40 Pound galvanized steel hanging poultry feeder with a handle, built for large flocks. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
KHEARPSL Galvanized Steel Chicken Feeder, Rainproof Hanging Poultry Feeder Trough with Lid, Holds 25 lbs is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. KHEARPSL's rainproof galvanized steel hanging trough feeder with a lid that holds 25 lbs of feed.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Chicken Coop Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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