Little Giant Hanging Metal Poultry Feeder, Galvanized Steel Feed Container with Hanging Handle, 40 Pound Review (2026)

Who this feeder fits

This is a large capacity feeder built for keepers who do not want to fill a trough every day. Miller Manufacturing, which makes the Little Giant line, lists the 40 pound size with a tube 11 inches across and 19.25 inches high, sitting over a 17 inch pan. That footprint works best in a walk-in coop or covered run with a sturdy rafter or bracket to hang it from, not a small starter coop. A flock of a dozen or more layers will empty a 30 pound bag of feed through it in a reasonable stretch without you topping it off constantly, which is the main reason to choose this size over the smaller 12 or 30 pound versions in the same line.

Build and how it works

The body is heavy gauge galvanized steel with rolled edges, so there are no sharp lips for birds or hands to catch on. Feed sits in the tube and gravity feeds it down into the pan as birds eat, which is the same simple mechanism used across most tube feeders. The galvanized coating is what actually keeps rats and mice from gnawing through the metal the way they can with plastic hoppers, and it holds up outdoors through wet seasons far better than untreated steel. A matching galvanized cover is sold separately by Miller if you want extra weather protection over the open top.

Setting it up and day to day use

Hanging the feeder off the ground is the whole point of the design, since it keeps feed away from droppings and cuts down on birds scratching it out onto dirty bedding. You will want a chain or wire rated for a filled 40 pound load, adjusted so the pan sits roughly at the birds' back height, and raised as pullets grow. Refilling means lifting the tube down or pouring from a stepstool, which is a two-handed job once it is full, so plan for that before you commit to the largest size. The open pan design does let determined hens flick a little feed onto the floor, which is worth sweeping up to avoid attracting rodents around the base.

Trade-offs against similar feeders

Compared with the KHEARPSL 25 pound hanging feeder, which adds a hinged lid over the pan, this Little Giant trades that rain cover for a larger 40 pound capacity and a simpler, cheaper build. Against the Farm Basics 30 inch trough feeder with a removable scratch guard, the Little Giant is a better fit for coops with more vertical space than floor space, since it hangs rather than sitting along a wall. None of these differences make one wrong, they just point to different coop layouts: pick the lidded KHEARPSL if driving rain reaches your feeding area, and this Little Giant if you want the most feed per fill in a covered spot.

Verdict and who should look elsewhere

Backyard keepers with six or more birds and a covered spot to hang it will get the most out of the 40 pound capacity and rugged galvanized build, based on our score of 8.6 out of 10 for fit, features, build and value. Keepers with only a few hens, or anyone feeding in an open run exposed to blowing rain, should look at a smaller size in the same line or a lidded trough style instead, since a half empty 40 pound tube is dead weight you do not need and this design has no rain cover of its own.

Frequently asked questions