- The best chicken feeder for most small flocks is a covered port feeder such as the Omlet No-Waste 12 lb (rated by Omlet for 6 hens for 7 days).
- Rats or mice at night? A treadle feeder such as Grandpa's Feeders 20 lb closes when no bird stands on it.
- Feeder in the open run? The OverEZ Compact 25 lb is listed as rainproof.
- Size it with real intake: extension guides put a laying hen at about ¼ lb of feed a day, up to 25% more in cold weather.
- Keep feeders under cover so wild birds cannot reach them: USDA APHIS lists this as a basic bird-flu precaution.
The best chicken feeder keeps feed dry, keeps hens from flicking it onto the floor, and keeps rodents and wild birds out of it, all while holding enough for a few days between refills. Feed is the biggest running cost of a backyard flock, so the right feeder pays you back in bags you do not have to buy.
Below are eight feeders from eight brands, from small hanging bowls to a 40 lb galvanized hanger. Capacities are as listed; refill estimates use the extension figure of about ¼ lb per laying hen per day. Browse the full range in feeders and waterers, and if rodents are your main problem, go straight to our treadle feeder list.
Our picks
Omlet No-Waste Chicken Feeder, 12 lb
- Type
- Port feeder, 5 ports
- Capacity
- 12 lb
- Mount
- Hanging or free-standing
- Weather
- Weatherproof
Omlet's No-Waste feeder holds 12 lb behind five enclosed ports meant to stop hens billing and scratching feed out. Omlet rates it to feed six hens for seven days, and it can hang or stand. Weatherproof per the maker.
Best for: 3–6 hens in a backyard coop or run
Skip if: Rodents visit at night: ports stay open
- Five enclosed ports
- Hang or free-standing
- Listed as weatherproof
- 12 lb means weekly refills for six hens
- Ports do not block rodents
Grandpa's Feeders 20 lb Galvanized Treadle Feeder
- Type
- Treadle
- Capacity
- 20 lb
- Material
- Galvanized steel
- Flock
- 6 chickens up to 10 days
Grandpa's Feeders' 20 lb galvanized treadle feeder opens only when a hen steps on the platform, with a lid and an anti-flick grill. The maker rates it for six chickens for up to 10 days.
Best for: Small flocks with rats, mice or sparrows
Skip if: You keep bantams too light to work the step
- Treadle lid closes when no bird stands on it
- Anti-flick grill
- Galvanized steel
- Hens need a few days to learn the step
- Takes floor space
OverEZ Compact Gravity Chicken Feeder, 25 lb
- Type
- Gravity port feeder
- Capacity
- 25 lb
- Weather
- Rainproof
The OverEZ Compact holds 25 lb in a gravity port design that OverEZ lists as rainproof, for use inside or outside the coop. It suits keepers who feed in an uncovered run.
Best for: Feeding outdoors in wet climates
Skip if: You need a rodent-closing lid
- Listed as rainproof
- 25 lb capacity
- Compact footprint
- Ports stay open to rodents
- Bigger 50 lb model needs more room
RentACoop Chick2Chicken 4-Port Feeder, 10 lb
- Type
- Port feeder, 4 medium ports
- Capacity
- 10 lb
- Material
- BPA-free plastic
RentACoop's Chick2Chicken 4-port feeder holds 10 lb, and its medium ports suit chicks from three days old through adult hens, per RentACoop. One feeder can follow a batch from the brooder to the coop.
Best for: Raising chicks into layers
Skip if: You have more than about six adult hens
- Chick to adult ports
- Four feeding ports
- BPA-free plastic
- 10 lb is small for a grown flock
- Plastic, not metal
Little Giant Galvanized Hanging Feeder, 40 lb
- Type
- Hanging
- Capacity
- 40 lb
- Material
- Galvanized steel
Little Giant's heavy-gauge galvanized hanging feeder holds 40 lb with rolled edges and a hanging handle. Hanging it at back height keeps feed off the floor and limits scratching out.
Best for: Larger flocks and fewer refills
Skip if: Your feeder sits in an open run: the pan is uncovered
- 40 lb capacity
- Heavy-gauge galvanized steel
- Rolled safety edges
- Open pan: wild birds and rodents can reach it
- Heavy when full
Harris Farms Galvanized Hanging Feeder, 15 lb
- Type
- Hanging
- Capacity
- 15 lb
- Material
- Galvanized steel
Harris Farms' 15 lb galvanized hanging feeder has rolled edges, a hanger handle and spring-loaded clips. It is the classic tube-and-pan design, sized for a small coop.
Best for: A first coop with 3–6 hens
Skip if: You want a feeder that blocks waste or pests
- Galvanized steel
- Spring-loaded clips
- Easy to hang inside a coop
- Open pan
- Hens can bill feed over the rim
CluckRoots Wall-Mount 4-Port Metal Feeder, 16-18 lb
- Type
- Wall-mount, 4 ports
- Capacity
- 16-18 lb
- Material
- Metal
The CluckRoots wall-mount feeder holds 16–18 lb behind four ports on an adjustable-height bracket, keeping feed off the coop floor and out of the bedding.
Best for: Small coops short on floor space
Skip if: You want to move the feeder between run and coop
- Wall-mounted, frees floor space
- Four ports
- Metal body
- Needs a solid wall or post
- Ports do not block rodents
Premier 1 Galvanized Cone Feeder, 11 lb
- Type
- Hanging or free-standing cone
- Capacity
- 11 lb
- Material
- Galvanized metal
- Flock
- Up to 44 birds (maker)
Premier 1's galvanized cone feeder hangs or stands, with three feed-output settings. Premier 1 lists an 11 lb capacity, up to 44 birds fed and suitability for waterfowl.
Best for: Mixed flocks of chickens and ducks
Skip if: You need several days between refills for a big flock
- Three output settings
- Hang or stand
- Listed as waterfowl friendly
- 11 lb capacity
- Open feeding ring
Chicken feeders compared by capacity
Capacity decides how often you refill; design decides how much you waste. Here are the listed specs side by side.
| Product | Capacity | Type | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omlet No-Waste Chicken Feeder, 12 lb | 12 lb | Port feeder, 5 ports | — |
| Grandpa's Feeders 20 lb Galvanized Treadle Feeder | 20 lb | Treadle | Galvanized steel |
| OverEZ Compact Gravity Chicken Feeder, 25 lb | 25 lb | Gravity port feeder | — |
| RentACoop Chick2Chicken 4-Port Feeder, 10 lb | 10 lb | Port feeder, 4 medium ports | BPA-free plastic |
| Little Giant Galvanized Hanging Feeder, 40 lb | 40 lb | Hanging | Galvanized steel |
| Harris Farms Galvanized Hanging Feeder, 15 lb | 15 lb | Hanging | Galvanized steel |
| CluckRoots Wall-Mount 4-Port Metal Feeder, 16-18 lb | 16-18 lb | Wall-mount, 4 ports | Metal |
| Premier 1 Galvanized Cone Feeder, 11 lb | 11 lb | Hanging or free-standing cone | Galvanized metal |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
How many days a full feeder lasts 4 laying hens
Listed capacity ÷ 1 lb a day (4 hens × ¼ lb). Cold weather can raise intake up to 25%.
Which type of chicken feeder do you need?
Feeder types at a glance
| Type | Stops scratching out | Keeps rain off | Keeps rodents out | Picks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covered port feeder | ✓ Yes | ✓ Mostly | ✗ No | Omlet, OverEZ, CluckRoots, Chick2Chicken |
| Treadle feeder | ✓ Yes (with grill) | ✓ Lid | ✓ Lid shuts when no bird stands on it | Grandpa's Feeders |
| Hanging tube and pan | ~ If hung at back height | ✗ Open pan | ✗ No | Little Giant, Harris Farms |
| Cone feeder | ~ Output settings help | ✗ Open ring | ✗ No | Premier 1 |
If you are torn between a treadle and a hanging feeder, our treadle vs hanging feeder comparison walks through the trade-offs.
Material matters too. Galvanized steel (Little Giant, Harris Farms, Grandpa’s Feeders, Premier 1) stands up to pecking, sun and rodents chewing at the edges, but it is heavier and can rust where the coating is scratched. Plastic and BPA-free polyethylene feeders (Omlet, RentACoop Chick2Chicken, OverEZ) are lighter and easier to wash. Whatever you choose, look for a feeder you can empty completely and scrub, because old feed caked in a corner can mold, and moldy feed should never go to the flock.
How we chose the best chicken feeders
We compared each listing's capacity, feeder type, material and any maker rating for flock size and days between refills, then checked capacities against extension feed-intake figures. We did not run these feeders in a coop or measure waste. Every flock-size figure above is the maker's. The list spans eight brands so no single maker dominates.
How to pick and set up a chicken feeder
- Count daily feed
Multiply your hens by about ¼ lb. Four hens eat about 1 lb a day, six about 1½ lb. Add up to 25% for winter.
- Choose refill frequency
Divide the feeder's capacity by daily feed. Many keepers aim for a week; longer than about two weeks risks stale or damp feed.
- Match the threat
Rats at night call for a treadle. Rain calls for a covered port feeder. Wild birds call for any feeder kept under a roof.
- Set the height
Hang or mount the feed opening at about the height of the hens' backs so they eat without scratching feed out.
- Train and watch
Port and treadle feeders take a few days to learn. Leave the old feeder up until every hen is eating from the new one.
- Clean on a schedule
Empty and clean the feeder whenever feed cakes or gets damp. Moldy feed should go in the trash, not the compost.
Chicken feeder mistakes to avoid
- Feeding on the ground. Feed in bedding gets soiled and draws rodents.
- Leaving feeders in an open run. Wild birds can carry disease, including bird flu. USDA APHIS advises keeping wild birds away from feed and water.
- Buying too big. A 40 lb feeder for three hens holds feed for over a month; it can go stale.
- Putting chick-sized ports on a big flock, or big ports in a brooder. Check the port size the maker lists for chicks.
- Skipping layer feed basics. The feeder is only as good as what is in it. See our layer feed picks.
Who should choose which feeder?
- First flock of 3–6 hens: Omlet No-Waste 12 lb or Harris Farms 15 lb. See more first-year gear in your first flock.
- Rodent problems: Grandpa's Feeders 20 lb treadle.
- Feeding in an uncovered run: OverEZ Compact 25 lb.
- Chicks growing into layers: RentACoop Chick2Chicken 10 lb.
- Ten or more birds: Little Giant 40 lb hanging feeder inside the coop.
- Tiny coop: CluckRoots wall-mount feeder.
- Chickens with ducks: Premier 1 cone feeder.
For most small backyard flocks, the Omlet No-Waste 12 lb feeder is the tidiest choice, with enclosed ports and a maker rating of six hens for seven days. If rodents are the problem, step up to the Grandpa's Feeders 20 lb treadle; if your feeder lives in the open run, the rainproof OverEZ Compact keeps feed dry.
We compare manufacturer specs and listing data (egg capacity by egg size, forced or still air, humidity control, turner type and auto-stop, alarms; coop floor area against the claimed number of hens, wood or plastic, nest boxes, latches; door lift capacity, power and sensor; feeder and waterer capacity and heater wattage; feed protein and form) and what the maker says each product is for, alongside extension, CDC, USDA and FDA guidance. Coop capacity is recounted from the listed floor area with published space norms. We did not hatch eggs in, house birds in, install or lab-test these products, and we never show invented scores, ratings or prices.