Somerzby Chicken Feeder

FAQ's

Do Chickens Need a Feeder?

A top priority of chicken keeping is making sure your flock are healthy and fed. Backyard chickens in Australia cannot live off foraging alone. You will need to give them chicken feed daily.

You may traditionally think of someone feeding their hens by scattering food in the grass. But this will lead to a lot of food wasted before your hens can even fill up! Chicken feeders (also known as a poultry feeder) give your chickens their food without as much waste. They are easy to fill up and clean out when needed.

You will also need to provide them with a waterer (aka. drinker).

What Type of Chicken Feeder is Best?

Look to choose a feeder that will reduce waste by keeping out native birds, mice and other animals. You don’t need to be feeding everything that wanders into your yard!

We recommend using a high quality automatic chicken feeder. These are also known as treadle feeders or self feeders. Other types available include trough feeders and plastic bell-shaped feeders (which typically hang from a roof).

What is an Automatic Chicken Feeder?

Automatic chicken feeders are a rectangular shaped feeder with a top covering. The chicken will step up onto the treadle. Their weight on the treadle will automatically open the lid, giving them access to the feed inside.

Are Automatic Chicken Feeders Any Good?

Yes, automatic chicken feeders minimise chicken feed wastage and save you money.

Their many benefits include:

• Preventing wild birds from eating the food.
• Stopping other animals such as rats and mice eating the food.
• Protecting feed from weather including wind and rain.
• Stopping your chickens from knocking over and spilling food.
• Stopping your chickens for flicking dirt and bedding up into the feeder.

What is the Best Chicken Treadle Feeders?

We recommend the Somerzby Automatic Chicken Feeder. It is made from high quality, rust-proof aluminium so it lasts well outdoors compared to other models on the market. The stainless steel bolts, rivets and moving parts are strong and durable.

It comes pre-assembled so customers don’t have to worry about using tools or setting up the precise but sturdy balance system. The treadle is non slip and the top is lightweight so it will not hurt your chickens.

How Large Do Chickens Need to Be to Use a Treadle Feeder?

If you have purchased your Automatic Feeder from Somerzby, it takes 500g of weight on the treadle to open the top. Most fully grown backyard chickens, including bantam breeds, will be able to open it.

Our feeder is not suitable for small chicks as they can get trapped inside if it is opened by a heavier bird. Native birds and rodents are too light to open it. Even if they were heavy enough, they are not big enough to sit on the treadle and reach in to get the food at the same time.

Ducks are heavy enough but their neck is usually too long to be able stand on the treadle and reach in.

How to Train Chickens to use an Automatic Feeder

It usually takes a few weeks to train your chooks to use their new automatic chicken feeder. Prop the top completely open by attaching a clothes peg at the rear of one side. This will show your flock there is food inside.

After a week, move the clothes peg to the front so the lid is halfway open. This helps your hens get used to the treadle movement while they can still see the food. After another week or so, remove the peg. Scatter a very small about of pellets of top to attract your chickens and encourage them to step onto the treadle.

It is important backyard chicken keepers are not feeding their chickens anywhere else while training them. Once one chicken picks it up, the rest will usually follow.

In regards to maintenance, you should occasionally check that the fasteners are not too loose, hose it down to keep it clean, and squirt a little oil onto the moving parts to keep the feeder in good working condition.

How Many Feeders or Waterers Does a Chicken Need?

It depends on how many chickens you have. We recommend one chook feeder and one waterer for every 6 hens. The Somerzby Automatic Chicken Feeder holds approximately 7.2kg of feed, enough for feeding 6 chooks for a week. Large flocks may need multiple feeders and waterers.

Should Chicken Feeders Be Off the Ground?

Chook feeders should be raised to be level with the height of your chickens’ backs. The Somerzby Automatic Chicken Feeder’s opening is raised 18.5cm off the ground so they are at the perfect height for your chooks to reach in and eat comfortably. Place the feeder onto a solid surface such as a plank of wood or pavers.

Where Should I Put My Chicken Feeder?

Hens need access to their food and water while they are awake. Most people will keep their feeders and waterers inside their chicken coops. This way their girls can always have food or water when they need it.

If you have a small coop and plan to always allow your flock into your yard during daylight hours, you may prefer to put the feeder and waterer outside of the chicken coop.

Should I Leave Food and Water in the Chicken Coop at Night?

If you are not planning to get up at sunrise and let your chickens out, then you should leave food and water in the enclosure overnight. As soon as your flock wake up, they will want something to eat and drink.

Rats are nocturnal and more likely to come into your yard after dark. Use a treadle feeder so your chickens can get to their feed while also keeping rodents out.

How Do You Store Chicken Feed in a Coop?

A responsible chicken keeper will store their feed in an airtight storage container. It will need to keep out both pests and moisture. Most people will keep the container nearby the enclosure but not actually inside of it.

How Much Food Should You Feed a Chicken Per Day?

Backyard chickens typically need to be fed 110-175g of feed per hen per day. The Somerzby Automatic Chicken Feeder holds 7.2kg of feed, enough food for 6 chooks for a week.

Laying hens may consume more as they require extra nutrients to produce eggs. Free range chickens may eat less pellets as they will fill up on what they forage outside, including grass and bugs.

Feed your hens a varied diet high in nutrients. It will keep them healthy and result in tastier eggs!

How to Keep Your Chicken Feeder Dry

You will need to keep your chicken’s food out of the rain. If their pellets gets wet and soggy, you won’t have happy chooks! Choose a high quality feeder with a lid. This means you can leave the feeder out in the open and it will be fine if it gets rained on.

If you have a feeder that is open at the top, you will need to make sure it is left under cover and is protected. This means you will need to have a covered chook run.

What Can I Use For a Chicken Feeder?

If you are feeling creative, you can make a DIY chicken feeder. A feeder can be made from anything that can hold feed without spilling – a container, tub, bucket, bowl or drinking cups.

PVC pipes are a popular choice for homemade backyard chicken feeders. You can mount them onto the side of your coop to make a tubular feeder. Or cut them in half length ways and lay them down to create a trough feeder.

Can I Use a Bird Feeder For Chickens?

Bird feeders are different from chicken feeders. A bird feeder is designed to hold a very small quantity and is usually raised high up. They are therefore not ideal to use for your chickens.

If you do use a bird feeder for your hens, it will allow native birds to steal your chook feed. This will waste feed and end up costing you more money in the long run. Choose a chook feeder that will keep out native birds, such as a treadle feeder.

TAGS

poultry feed, bird, bird feeding, bird food