Grandpas Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder, 40 lbs No Waste Rodent Proof Treadle Feeder with Lid Review (2026)

Who the large treadle feeder fits best

The 40 lb size sits at the top of Grandpa's Feeders' lineup, built for flocks that outgrow the smaller 20 lb version or for keepers who simply want to stretch the gap between refills as long as possible. Feeding roughly six to twelve chickens for up to about ten days on one fill makes it a good match for a mid-size backyard coop, a small homestead flock, or anyone who travels and needs feed to last through a weekend away without a sitter topping off the hopper. It is less suited to a couple of hens in a tiny urban coop, where the footprint and full weight of the hopper would be overkill. Anyone who has lost feed to rats, mice, or wild birds raiding an open trough is the core audience, since the treadle mechanism is the entire reason this style of feeder exists.

How the treadle, lid, and steel build work

The feeder is built from galvanized steel with an aluminum tread plate, chosen for the combination of rust resistance and a textured surface birds can grip. Chickens step onto the treadle, which their body weight presses down to open the feed port beneath the hopper; when they step off, the treadle springs back up and seals the opening. Rodents and smaller birds like sparrows are generally too light to trigger it, which is the mechanism's whole selling point over an open pan. A hinged lid sits over the hopper opening, keeping rain and snow off the feed inside so it does not clump or mold between refills. Two training bolts are included to limit how far the treadle initially depresses, letting new birds get used to the motion gradually over a week or two before the bolts are removed for full range of motion.

Setting it up and using it week to week

The feeder arrives mostly assembled, with the tread plate typically needing to be attached before first use, and it is sized to travel in a vehicle if you need to move it between coops or bring it home for cleaning. Because it is bulky and considerably heavier once loaded with 40 lbs of feed, it is worth placing it in its final spot on level, dry ground before filling rather than trying to shift a full hopper afterward. New flocks, especially chicks or skittish adult birds, often need the training bolts in place for the first week so they learn to associate stepping on the treadle with food appearing, rather than being startled by the mechanism. Once trained, refills are infrequent, and the main routine task is an occasional wipe down of the hopper interior and a check that the treadle still springs back cleanly after exposure to mud or ice.

Where it sits against similar rat proof feeders

This 40 lb feeder ranks first of eight in our automatic feeder guide with our score of 8.8 out of 10, ahead of Grandpa's Feeders' own 20 lb model and a similarly sized 40 lb RentACoop treadle feeder that both score slightly lower here. Compared with lower cost stainless steel or double sided treadle feeders from newer brands, Grandpa's Feeders leans on a longer production history and a simpler, single mechanism design rather than added features. The honest trade-off next to those alternatives is weight and bulk: once full, this is not a feeder you casually pick up and move, so placement planning matters more than it would with a lighter 20 lb or 22 lb unit. Very light bantam breeds can also struggle to press the treadle fully, a limitation shared across most treadle style feeders regardless of brand.

Bottom line and who should size down

For a flock of six to twelve standard size chickens where fewer refills and reliable rodent proofing matter more than portability, this 40 lb feeder earns our score of 9 out of 10 for build and materials and is a sound long-term purchase. Keepers with only a few birds, limited coop space, or a flock that includes small bantams should look at the 20 lb version instead, since the smaller hopper is easier to train young or lightweight birds on and easier to reposition. Anyone who moves their feeder frequently between a run and a storage shed may also prefer a lighter model, since this one is meant to be set once and left in place rather than carried back and forth on a regular basis.

Frequently asked questions