home Work and education Bunker feeder for chickens drawing. Various ways to make a chicken feeder with your own hands from improvised materials

Bunker feeder for chickens drawing. Various ways to make a chicken feeder with your own hands from improvised materials

Novice farmers who decide to have poultry, for example: ducks, geese or chickens, of course, are primarily interested in ways of feeding and keeping feathered animals. In particular, they are concerned about the question: how to properly equip a feeding place.

Properly made and installed feeders are not only well-fed chicks, geese, ducks and other representatives of feathered living creatures, but also a huge savings in feed. For example, feeders must be selected and installed in such a way that they do not have the opportunity to rake the feed. After all, the fact that chickens, in particular chickens, love to dig up the food poured into them is known to everyone.

This article will discuss how to make homemade bird feeders. There is nothing complicated about this, and the purchase is an extra, thoughtless expense.

Feeders can be divided into separate types according to different parameters, below are examples of the most popular classifications.

Classification according to the material used in the assembly

From a tree. Ideal for dry feed: grain, grinding, pellets, compound feed and so on.
Made of metal, they are ideal for wet food, for example, mash. This does not mean at all that dry food or, for example, mineral additives cannot be poured into such containers: chalk, shells, and so on.
Plastic. Purpose coincides with metal. A huge plus of such products is that they are easy to design with your own hands.
Feeders made of mesh or metal rods. They are essential for feeding hay or grass.

Classification by type of feed distribution

Tray. This design is a flat container with sides, thanks to which the feed is not scattered. Ideal for feeding chickens.
Grooved. The tray has a top, which contributes to even less feed loss. This design is also suitable for feeding broiler chickens and not only.
Bunker. The bunker, or as it is also called, the automatic feeder, is good because you can fill it with the daily ration for the bird and do not worry about feeding until the next day. They are also called automatic due to the fact that the feed is not available all at once, it is supplied as needed.

Location Classification

Floor. They can be placed in any part of the house or range.
Mounted feeders are placed along the perimeter of the fence of the cage, poultry house or paddock, they are fixed on the fence.

You can also give many more types of classifications, for example: by the type of bird that will eat from these feeders, or by the age of the birds. separate view for chickens, for example, broilers and for adults. But this is already redundant.

Requirements and characteristics for a container for feeding

In fact, the list of requirements is not so great. The only thing you want to pay attention to is that for chickens, ducklings, goslings and other chicks, it should be different from the feeding place for adult birds. There are also a few other special rules.

For chicks or adult hens, it is set so that they have a minimum of opportunities for raking feed. Why are hens and chickens specifically mentioned? Everything is very simple, it is these birds that love to rake food more than all other species. The ideal solution would be automatic.
An important factor is ease of maintenance, it must be made so that it is easy to clean and wash if necessary. It should also be as mobile as possible.
Optimally sized. For an adult, a distance of at least 10 cm is allocated. For young animals, including broilers, 5 cm is enough.

DIY manufacturing

Of course, on the market and in stores you can pick up any feeder for broiler chickens, laying hens and any other bird. But it is much more profitable to make a feeder yourself.

The global network has a huge number of manufacturing options and materials from which they can be made: plastic bottles, old buckets, plywood and other improvised means. It will take very little time to make them.

Plastic feeder

The simplest option is made from an ordinary lemonade bottle.

At a height of 10-13 centimeters, it is necessary to make an incision through which the bird will peck the food. A similar design must be fixed on the pasture fence. Otherwise, the birds will turn it over, and all the food will be on the ground.

Can also be made from paint buckets and other building materials. For manufacturing you will need: two buckets of different diameters. At a height of 3-5 cm from the bottom of the bucket, we make holes, through which food will flow. We cut a larger bucket at a height of 10-12 cm. We fasten two parts of the future with self-tapping screws or bolts. Now you can pour the feed, it will flow automatically, as needed.

From sewer pipes

For its manufacture you will need:

sewer pipe with a diameter of 14-20 centimeters;
tee of the same diameter;
two stubs.

From the pipe we cut off two pieces measuring 20 and 10 centimeters, respectively. We will also need another piece of pipe of arbitrary length, but more than fifty centimeters. Using a tee, we connect the largest piece with a twenty-centimeter segment, and install plugs at the ends. We connect the remaining ten centimeter segment to the tee, which will serve as a feed tray. This option has one significant disadvantage. From it will not be able to peck a large number of chickens at the same time.

For a larger population of birds, you can make a slightly different design. This will require:

plastic pipe;
two plugs;
connecting knee.

We cut off a piece of 30-40 cm in size from the pipe. We make round holes in it with a diameter of 2-3 centimeters at a distance of 40-50 millimeters. We connect the two parts of the pipe with a knee and put plugs on both sides.

Wooden feeders

You will need the following to collect:

Having prepared everything you need, you can proceed directly to the manufacturing process.

First you need to choose the dimensions of the product, you can use the ones provided below.

Front panel 270×290 mm.
Sidewalls 400×290 mm from the bottom and 400×260 from above. Side panels must be recessed. Most bottleneck should be 170 mm wide.
Lid 350×260 mm.
Rear wall 390×290 mm.
The apron is 70×290 mm, it is installed from below and serves as protection against raking the feed by the bird.
Bottom 170×290 mm.

We mark the details on plywood.

Cut out the details with a jigsaw.
With a drill we make small indentations in those places where the screws will be screwed. Or we drill full-fledged holes if screws are used instead of self-tapping screws.
We process the edges of the workpiece with sandpaper.
Using a clamp and self-tapping screws (screws), we collect all the parts together.
The lid is hinged for ease of use.

If this design seemed too complicated for you to manufacture, you can also make an ordinary wooden tray with your own hands. It is very easy to manufacture, so it does not even require any additional explanation.

Benefit self-manufacturing over her purchase is obvious.

Firstly, you will not spend anything but your personal time.
Secondly, as a rule, hand-made products are much more reliable and durable than purchased ones. After all, there is a huge difference between handmade for own use and conveyor.
And thirdly, you will find a use for those things that for the most part would be thrown into the trash: plastic bottles, old sewer pipes and so on.

Undoubtedly, it is worth taking care of the payback of the content poultry. And if you add all the costs together, it turns out that it is much more profitable to buy meat and an egg in a store. But, of course, it's up to you to decide.

Are you planning to raise chickens and have already built a chicken coop for them? Then it's time to take care of the rest - in particular, the feeder. It is easy to make, especially since you can use various materials. Consider the simplest and most common options for how to make a chicken feeder with your own hands.

A feeder can be made from anything - for example, from boards, boxes, pipes or plastic bottles. But regardless of the material chosen, one problem always appears - we are talking about mixing feed. And if you use several feeders at once, they will take up too much space. There is a way out of this situation, but we will talk about it a little later.

So, in order for the feeder to cope with its functions, it is necessary to prepare for its construction in advance. First, determine the size of the structure and choose a place for it. At the same time, it does not matter whether it will be located in the chicken coop or in the yard - all birds should have free access to it. Moreover, chickens should not crowd or interfere with each other during feeding.

It should also be remembered that chickens need not only dry, but also wet food (we are talking about mixers). In the first case, cylinder-shaped bunkers are excellent, in which the volume of feed is replenished automatically. For wet food, a feeder in the form of a trough is more suitable, on top of which a “turntable” made of timber is installed.

Making a chicken feeder - an overview of popular methods

Of course, the procedure for constructing a trough differs from a bunker-type feeder both in terms of labor costs and the complexity of the work. But modern equipment and materials greatly simplify the process, so there will be no particular difficulties.

Note! When constructing a feeder, one must adhere to one important rule: the design should be stable, food should not spill out of it. Otherwise, there will be not only an overrun of feed, but also a violation of sanitary standards.

Option one. creative cutting board feeder

To make such an unusual bird feeder, you must prepare:

cutting board;
funnel;
a small plastic cup;
rubber hose (transparent);
electric drill.

The further algorithm of actions should look something like this.

Table. Making a cutting board feeder

Steps, no.	A photo	Description
Step 1		Take a funnel (preferably plastic) and circle its outer contours on the board. Try to do everything as accurately as possible.
Step 2		Drill a lot of holes within the drawn circle. It is important not to overdo it here, because the supply of dry food should be limited.
Step 3		Take a pre-prepared transparent hose of the required diameter. Connect the hose to the end of the funnel, if necessary, you can use additional fasteners (for example, a clamp).
Step 4		Take a plastic cup and make a hole at the bottom as shown in the image. The diameter of the hole should be such that the end of the hose fits snugly and holds well.
Step 5		Take the other end of the hose and place it in the hole you made. In case of insufficient density, treat the edges of the hole and the outer surface of the hose with a sealant.
Step 6		Next, you need to glue the socket of the funnel to the cutting board. To do this, process the contour of the circle with holes with sealant.
Step 7		Put a funnel on the circle, hold it in this position until the sealant dries.
Step 8		Connect one end of the hose to the cup and the other end to the glued funnel. The funnel should be at the bottom of the board.

When assembled, the feeder described above will look like this. You can add grain.

Note! The grain will be poured through the hose from the watering can into the cup itself. Also make sure the board is stable, as chickens are more likely to sit on it.

Option two. Bunker feeder from a plastic bucket

This design can be considered automatic, since your participation in feeding the chickens will be minimal. Such a feeder can be purchased ready-made in the store, but it will not be cheap, so you can try to make it yourself. The manufacturing procedure is quite simple.

Of the consumables you will need:

special sectional bowl for animals;
plastic bucket.

Once prepared, follow the instructions below.

Step 1. Take a plastic bucket and make holes in its bottom through which the food will spill out (as shown in the image below).

Step 2 Attach the sectional bowl to the bottom of the bucket using screws.

Step 3 Fill a plastic bucket with grain or any other food, close the lid.

The advantage of this design is that it can be installed in almost any convenient place (put or hang). As the food is consumed, it will automatically pour into the bowl under the influence of its own weight.

Option three. Plastic bottle design

Nowadays, water is often stored in cheap plastic containers. Such bottles are, perhaps, in every home and they can be used to build a convenient feeder.

Step 1. Cut the bottle in half, make holes on the walls in the bottom half, as shown in the image. The size of each hole should be sufficient so that the chicken head freely enters it (it is advisable to leave a small margin).

Step 2 Take the second bottle, cut the bottom in it, then place it upside down inside the prepared incision. As a result, a few centimeters should remain between the neck and the bottom.

Step 3 Pour the grain inside, close the hole in the upper part with something. The disadvantage of this design is that in case of bad weather it must be transferred to the room, however, for placement inside the house, this is the best option.

For chickens, you can make a similar design in smaller sizes using ordinary plastic bottles. Manufacturing technology will be the same.

Option four. Simple wooden feeder (#1)

If you don’t have a lot of chickens, and only pieces of wood from improvised materials, then you can make the feeder described below. The latter is great for those cases when the owners do not have the opportunity to periodically add grain (in other words, this is also a bunker feeder). It is not difficult to make such a design, the main thing is to clearly follow the instructions below.

Prepare these first expendable materials and equipment:

After that, proceed directly to manufacturing.

Step 1. Start by creating a drawing, then transfer it to the tree, drawing the elements of the required dimensions:

bottom 29x17 centimeters;
two "sidewalls" 40 centimeters high with an upper edge of 24 and a lower edge of 29 centimeters;
two rectangles for the front wall - 28x29 and 70x29 centimeters;
top cover (26x29 centimeters);
back wall (40x29 centimeters).

Step 2 Carefully cut out all the elements.

Step 3 Make holes for the screws in the required places using an electric drill.

Step 4 Sand all surfaces to be smooth and bird-safe.

Step 5 Using screws, assemble all the elements into a single structure. To achieve maximum density, you can use a clamp. It is also important that the back and front walls are attached at a 15° angle.

Step 6 Use the hinges to attach the cover to the back of the side walls.

Step 7. It is also advisable to treat the feeder with an antiseptic. No paint or varnish can be used.

Note! The finished design will turn out to be roomy and comfortable, the food, protected from moisture, will be gradually fed automatically. In addition to labor costs, no other shortcomings have been noticed.

Option five. Simple wooden feeder (#2)

Another simple option is a feeder made in the form of a small trough. It is suitable for those who have a large number of chickens and have a canopy in case of rain.

For work you will need:

Step 1. First, make a drawing of the future design. Extremely accurately determine all the elements, their dimensions and installation locations of fasteners. This is the most important step to avoid possible errors and inconsistencies.

bottom (15x100 centimeters);
a pair of side walls (8x100 centimeters);
one beam (HxWxD - 2x3x100 centimeters);
small end walls with a width of 15 centimeters and a height corresponding to the long side + bottom thickness.

Sawing the end walls is the most difficult step. For better presentation We recommend that you take a look at the image below.

Step 3 In accordance with the drawn up drawing, cut out each of the elements.

Note! The bottom should be thick and heavy enough so that the birds do not overturn the structure. The height of the walls should be comfortable for chickens.

Step 4 Connect all the elements together. Try not to leave gaps, because food can spill out through them. Additional processing of wood is not required, moreover, if desired, this design can be modified to suit your own needs.

The advantages of such a feeder include durability and strength, as well as versatility with regards to the type of feed used (the latter can be both dry and wet). As for the shortcomings, there is only one - the feeder needs minimal maintenance.

Option six. Two-story wooden feeder

The next option is intended primarily for dry food (although you can use a variety of mixers). Ideal for small spaces, because the second tier compensates for the lack of free space. For work, you will need screws and bars.

Step 1. First, prepare all the elements of the feeder. The main one will be the lower tier, the height of which should be 25, and the width - 26 centimeters. As for the length, it depends on the number of birds.

Step 2 Make special grooves into which the damper will be inserted.

Step 3 The second floor will be a small trough with a board height of 10 centimeters. Install the second floor on the ends of the first, then attach with hinges.

Option seven. PVC pipe construction

An easy-to-implement option that requires minimum expenses and effort. PVC pipes are sold everywhere and are inexpensive. To make, use one of the methods below.

Method one. With cutouts

For the construction of this structure, take care of the following consumables:

a pair of PVC pipes (40 and 60 centimeters in length);
two plugs;
connecting knee.

A 60 cm pipe will be installed horizontally and will serve to feed the pizzas. Another pipe is installed vertically and is necessary for the supply of grain. Start by making a hole in a longer pipe, although it is not uncommon to make a large one instead, through which the birds will peck at the grain.

Step 1. On a 60 cm pipe, draw holes with a diameter of 7 cm and with the same pitch.

Step 2 Cut out the marked holes.

Step 3 Put a cap on one end of the pipe.

Step 4 Install a knee on the second end, and, in turn, thread another pipe into it.

Step 5 Fix the resulting structure in the house, preferably in two or three places at once, so that it holds well.

After each falling asleep of grain, put a second plug on top so that debris does not get inside. The described design is also a bunker, so you can add food only once or twice a day.

Method two. With tee

In this case, for manufacturing you will need:

PVC pipes, sized (70, 20 and 10 centimeters);
two plugs;
tee with 45° angle.

Step 1. Take a 20 cm pipe and put a plug on one end. This will be the bottom of the feeder.

Step 2. Put a tee on the other end of this pipe so that the side elbow is directed upwards.

Step 3. Insert a small pipe into the side hole.

Step 4 Insert the pipe of the longest length into the third hole of the tee. Here, as in the previous method, after each feed filling, the pipe must be closed with a plug.

There are other ways to make a PVC pipe bird feeder, as experienced poultry farmers talk about in the video below.

Video - Feeder made of pipe

Option eight. Canister construction

A cheap and easy way to make a feeder.

Prepare for work:

any plastic canister;
a piece of pipe 10-15 centimeters in length;
fasteners;

Step 1. Thoroughly clean and dry the canister.

Step 2. Using a knife or any other tool, cut about 5 holes on the sides. The diameter of the holes should be about 6-7 centimeters so that the head of the chickens fits freely in them.

Step 3. Make a hole in the upper part for filling the grain and attach a pipe on top (the diameters must match). That way the birds won't get in.

To protect against rain and debris, you can additionally take care of a cover for the pipe.

Option nine. CD case construction

Don't throw away your old CD case - you can still use it to feed your chickens!

In order to build such a structure, prepare:

long container;
a large bowl;

Step 1. Clean and dry the container, then cut three or four 2x2 cm holes on its walls near the rim.

Step 2. Fill the container with food, cover with a bowl on top.

Step 3 Turn the container with the bowl over and place it in the required place.

Note! Make sure that there are no sharp corners in the cuts that the chickens can get hurt on.

Also note that this design is not durable and is designed for a small amount of birds.

Option ten. Automatic design

The video below shows another interesting option - a structure that opens under the weight of a chicken.

Video - Automatic feeder

This is not a complete list of possible options - the article describes only the most popular of them. Having shown ingenuity and imagination, you can come up with your own design, the main thing is that the product is durable and safe for feathered pets.

Reading time ≈ 15 minutes

Every summer resident should know that a do-it-yourself chicken feeder will be useful on the farm, and its production will not hit your pocket. Photo and original ideas we will present to you below, and the chickens will be satisfied with the product. After all, they provide a very important product from our diet - eggs. And their meat is also famous for its taste. And self-grown birds have not only tasty, but also healthy meat. Such a bird is unpretentious, but still, you will have to work hard on arranging a chicken coop for breeding it.

Homemade chicken feeder

In order for chickens to give a lot of eggs, you need to follow some rules for their maintenance. For example, they are very hectic birds, so place them in a quiet and peaceful place. Plus, it's important proper nutrition. And to make it convenient and comfortable for them to eat, they need a feeder for chickens. Of course, buying such an item is not difficult. But such a purchase is not always possible due to the high cost of the product. Yes, and made personally will suit your requirements as much as possible. There may be many options. But let's talk about the most affordable and popular.

Experts distinguish three types of structures:

tray feeder - consist of flat containers that have small sides. They are needed so that the birds do not scatter food. This option is best used for feeding small chickens;
grooved feeder - another turntable is attached to the tray. It can be replaced with a restrictive grille that is easy to remove. Also, the tray itself can be divided into several compartments. This separation is convenient when feeding various kinds of feed. Often these types of products are taken out of the cage. So it's pretty easy to maintain them;
bunker feeder - used for feeding dry feed. This design consists of a hopper in which it places enough feed or grain to provide a complete ration for certain time(for example, a day) and a tray. Feed flows evenly into the tray, depending on how the feed is eaten. With this use, the food will always be clean and dry, because the hopper itself is securely closed.

Chicken feeding

Preparatory work

For making, you can take a variety of materials, including those that are easy to find in every yard. All available materials will do - boxes, wooden boards, pipes and even plastic bottles. But farmers will always be faced with the question of how to mix feed? After all, the use of several for individual feeds will take up a lot of free space. But everything is much simpler than it seems. This secret will be revealed a little later.

The location of the feeder on the street

The structure must cope with the main function - to deliver grain. For full functionality, it is necessary to properly prepare before the construction itself. The first step is to outline the parameters of the future design. The choice of location is also important. This is important for both indoor and outdoor feeders. The main criterion is the freedom of approach and access to food for each bird. It is important that during feeding, the chickens do not crowd and do not interfere. Therefore, when calculating the parameters, consider the number of animals.

When choosing an option for construction, do not forget about the right diet. The fact is that chickens should receive both dry and wet food (mash). The best option for dry food is a bunker feeder. It is most often made in a cylindrical shape, and grain replenishment occurs automatically. But for wet types of food, it is better to choose flute or tray feeders.

Of course, the construction of the tray and the bunker have different technologies and the use of materials will be different. But with today's tools, the process has become much easier. So even a beginner in this business can easily build a simple feeder on one's own. The main thing is to follow the given recommendations. Consider the main options that are easy to execute and most popular among farmers. Detailed instructions for each type are included.

Important! When creating a structure for feeding chickens, you need to follow this principle: create maximum stability and the feed should not spill out of it. In case of non-compliance with this rule, there will be an extra waste of food and a lack of sanitation standards.

Option 1. Chopping board feeder

To get an unusual do-it-yourself chicken feeder, look at the photo. And this and other original ideas will help you create your own unique version. For equipment of this type of grain supply, you need to take the following materials and tools:

cutting board;
small plastic cup
funnel;
transparent rubber hose;
electric drill.

The manufacture of the feeder is as follows.

You need to take a plastic funnel and circle its outer contour on the board itself in the center.
On the intended circle with an electric drill, make a lot of holes. But too much is not needed so that the feed comes in a little bit.
The diameter of the hose must match the spout of the funnel. They need to be connected to each other. To make the connection as strong and reliable as possible, you can take suitable fastening elements (clamp).
Closer to the bottom of the plastic container, you need to make a hole. Its size must match the hose so that it can enter and hold firmly.
The free end of the rubber hose must be passed through the hole made in the cup. If the connection density is not enough, then use a sealant. Just apply it to the edges of the hole and the hose, or rather its outer part.
After everything is dry, you need to attach the socket of the funnel to the board itself. Here also use sealant around the contour.
The funnel should lie exactly along the contour made. Hold it until the sealant is completely dry.
The hose must be connected at one end to a plastic cup, and at the other end to the spout of the funnel. It should be on the bottom side of the board. The feeder is ready!

Important: The feed will be supplied from the watering can through the hose into the cup itself. Pay special attention to the stability of such a feeder, because the birds will sit on the board and can turn it over.

Chopping board feeder

Option 2. Design based on plastic bottles

Many store water in case of a power outage or for other household needs. Storage most often takes place in affordable plastic containers. We can say that such containers already exist in every home. It is plastic bottles that can be taken as the basis for creating a bird feeder.

Finished product for feeding

The creation of such an option for feeding chickens involves the use of two containers and is carried out according to the following algorithm:

You need to cut the bottle into two parts. After that, make holes at the bottom, how exactly to do this, look at the photo. The size of such holes should be made slightly larger than the head of the chicken. So they can easily slip it in and eat.
In the second container, it is necessary to cut out the bottom and place it with the neck down so that it fits inside the cut made earlier. The result should be a small gap of a few centimeters between the bottom itself and the inserted neck.
Grain is poured inside. From above it must be closed with something. The feeder is ready to use.

bottle cut in half

The only caveat is that if it rains or there are other adverse conditions outside, the feeder must be moved indoors. But if you use it in the room itself, then this type will be very successful.

Such a chicken feeder can also be built with your own hands, but from ordinary plastic bottles. So the whole structure will have smaller dimensions, as in the photo. But for feathered babies, there are other original ideas.

Chicken feeder

Option 3. Wooden feeder with drawings

The option below is very convenient, because you do not need to constantly monitor the amount of feed and add it. This is one of the varieties of the bunker feeder. How to make such a feeder, see below. The process is not difficult. The main thing is to follow the recommendations and the sequence of work.

To build a wooden feeder, you will need the following building materials and equipment:

high strength plywood (pieces can be) or wooden canvas;
drills and electric drill;
hand saw or electric jigsaw;
loops (pair);
sandpaper;
screwdriver;
tape measure and marker.

Wooden variant drawing

After you have decided on the drawing, you need to transfer the necessary markup of future parts to the tree. In our case, the parameters of the elements are as follows:
bottom - 290 x 170 mm;
side walls (2 pcs.) - height 400 mm, while the width of the upper edge is 240 mm, and the lower edge is 290 mm;
front wall (rectangle - 2 pcs.) - 280 x 290 mm and 700 x 290 mm;
back wall - 400 x 290 mm;
cover - 260 x 290 mm.

According to the drawn markup, it is necessary to cut out the details.
Using an electric drill, make holes for fastening with fasteners.
The entire surface must be treated with sandpaper. So you make the feeder not only smooth, but also safe for the birds themselves.
Using screws, it is necessary to assemble the entire structure together. To fasten securely, you can use a screwdriver. When assembling, you need to position and attach the walls at an angle of 15 degrees.
Using the hinges, install the cover to the side walls.

wooden feeder

After that, it is worth treating the feeder with a special agent with an antiseptic effect.

It is worth refraining from using paints and varnishes, because this can scare away birds.

Important: The whole building has impressive dimensions, but at the same time very comfortable. With such a feeder, the grain will always be dry and clean. We can say that this option is an automatic feeder, because dry food will be fed gradually. Of the minuses, one can single out large labor costs. But the result will please you.

Option 4. Bunker-type feeder from a plastic bucket

Such a feeder also belongs to the category of automatic, because you almost do not have to intervene in the process of feeding your farm. It's pretty easy to make, so don't pay big bucks at the store and try to make it yourself.

Bunker feeder

Consumables for the construction:

plastic bucket;
animal bowl divided into sections.

sectional bowl

Initially, you need to make holes in the bottom of the bucket for food to enter.
Using self-tapping screws, you need to attach the bucket to the bowl.
Pour dry food into the bucket to the top and close the lid.

Ready-made feeder from a plastic bucket

The undeniable advantage of this option is its versatility and simplicity. This feeder can be installed anywhere. It can even be hung up. The grain will flow as it is eaten. So that the excess will not spill out of the feeder, which ensures cleanliness in the yard or chicken coop. The feed supply is provided by pressure, which is formed from its own weight.

Hopper type feeder for small chickens

Option 5. Pipe feeders (PVC)

This type of product is quite simple to manufacture. And the cost of such construction is minimal. PVC pipes are very common and their price is low, so everyone can afford it. But, despite the simplicity, there are several design options for such feeders. Which one should you choose? Assess your actual conditions of keeping birds and their number.

Method 1. With the creation of cutouts.

For such a product you will need:

PVC pipes (2 pcs.) 400 and 600 mm long;
plug (2 pcs.);
connection elbow.

Cut-out plastic pipe construction

The long pipe will have a horizontal arrangement. Its function is to directly feed the birds. A short plastic pipe will be installed in a vertical position. She will feed the feed into a horizontal pipe.

First you need to make holes in a long pipe. Often one large hole is made so that the chickens have full access to the feed.

Take a pipe 600 mm long and mark the holes. Each has a diameter of 70 mm. Keep a distance of 7 cm between them. After that, you need to make holes in accordance with the markings. If the farm is large, then you can place holes on both sides of the pipe. So, at one time it can fit more birds. Also, the holes may not be round, but oval.
The plug must be put on one end of the pipe.
With reverse side you need to insert the pipe into the connecting elbow. And after that, another pipe is inserted into the knee.

Feeder inside the chicken coop

The feeder must be attached in the house so that it does not turn over. Fasteners are best placed in several places.
From above, you need to install another plug, after falling asleep food. This will prevent debris and dirt from getting into the grain. This design allows backfilling every couple of days.

Method 2. Using a tee.

In this case, you need to stock up on the following materials:

plastic pipe (3 pcs.) 700, 200 and 100 mm long;
plugs (2 pcs.);
tee at 45 degrees.

PVC feeder with tee

Put a cap on a 200 mm pipe. This pipe will be the bottom of the whole structure.
On the other side of the same pipe, put on a tee. The side knee should look up.
100 mm pipe must be put on the third elbow of the installed tee.
The longest pipe is installed in the free elbow of the tee.

The collection of the feeder is carried out according to the drawing

Drawing of a feeder with a tee

As with the option described above, the top of the feeder should always be capped to keep the food clean for the hens.

On the shelves of supermarkets at any time of the year you can find fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not a problem to buy poultry meat today. Why, then, summer residents do not stop growing their own crops and do not give up farming. We are sure that each of the gardeners and poultry farmers will tell you how much the products grown with their own hands are tastier, juicier and more environmentally friendly. But if even urban summer residents can maintain a garden, then raising chickens is not such an easy task. However, for our craftsmen, a do-it-yourself feeder is not a problem. There would be a desire, and we will select information on home-made devices for you.

Balanced and, very importantly, timely nutrition is essential for healthy chickens. But things are modern people a lot and it is not always possible to monitor the time of feeding. It is much easier if the feeding process takes place using a device that supplies food to automatic mode. We bring to your attention several options for homemade feeders and drinkers. We will be glad if any of the proposed models will make your life easier.

It is very difficult to constantly remember the feeding hours of poultry. Given that the farmer may be away for a day or two, hopper-type feeders become an indispensable item.

Option # 1 - a pipe for you, laying hen!

The most ingenious inventions are usually very simple. This is the idea to use polypropylene pipes.

To assemble the necessary device you will need:

pipes of various diameters;
couplings;
connecting devices.

We attach a part to the polypropylene pipe, which is called the "connecting elbow". The resulting design is placed in the chicken coop. From above, we pour food into the pipe, after which we close the upper end of the structure with a lid. Feed under the influence of gravity enters the knee. As the feed is consumed by the chickens, it will be added to the knee from the pipe. In the pipe, the level of the product will gradually decrease. After a few days, it will be possible to pour a new portion of feed into the pipe.

A similar design is good if there are few birds on the farm. Otherwise, the connecting elbow can be replaced with another pipe, fixing it parallel to the floor. Birds will be able to get food from a horizontal pipe through the holes in it. Such a feeder not only saves the owners time, but also space in the chicken coop: it is conveniently located and does not interfere with anyone.

This is how a feeder made of a polypropylene pipe looks unpretentious. Agree that it is difficult to come up with something simpler than this elementary device.

Of course, if there are a lot of chickens on the farm, you can simply make a lot of pipes for feeding them. But we will do it easier and attach another pipe to the main one - a horizontal one, in which we will make holes

The disadvantage of such a device is one: the lack of limiters. Chickens can climb pipes, stomp and spoil the feed.

Option # 2 - bunker type devices

If you buy an automatic bird feeder in specialized stores, then you have to pay a decent amount. Moreover, for a large farm, several such products will be required. Meanwhile, there is nothing complicated in the proposed design.

When choosing a bowl or portioned dog bowl for making such a feeder, do not lose sight of the fact that its diameter must be greater than the diameter of the bucket base.

It is necessary to prepare:

a plastic bucket that was left after the repair;
a sectional dog bowl or an inexpensive vegetable bowl, also made of plastic;
sharp knife.

We cut holes in the bottom of the plastic bucket in accordance with the number of compartments in the container. The size of the holes themselves should allow the feed to flow freely into the bin. The bucket and the bowl must be connected to each other with screws.

It is better not to put the feeder on the ground, but to hang it. In this case, the likelihood that the chickens will climb on it is minimal.

The feed is poured into the container, the bucket is closed with a lid. The feeder can be placed on a horizontal surface or hung so that the birds can freely get food. Hanging a bucket by the handle in the right place, you can be sure that for several days the chickens are completely provided with food.

Option # 3 - an elementary dining room

It takes very little time to build and the most simple materials. Prepare:

container with a plastic handle;
mesh netting;
sharp knife.

The plastic container must be freed from the contents, rinsed thoroughly and dried. Carefully cut out the front. We make an incision on the handle of the bottle so that it can be hung on the net that fences the chicken coop. Pour food directly into the bottle. It is important that the container is at a height that is as comfortable as possible for the feeding bird.

The feeder is built in minutes. Well, if the chicken coop is fenced with a net, otherwise a piece of chain-link can simply be pulled in the right place

Option #4 - plywood feeder

Another option for the bunker can be made from a sheet of plywood. We cut out vertical high walls and build a box without a front. The height of the feeder is approximately 90 cm. Thanks to this size, you can fill in a large amount of feed at once.

The feed must not get stuck at the outlet. To do this, place a piece of plywood at the bottom of the box so that it has a slight slope towards the front. Now loose feed will roll down to where it will be available to chickens. The optimal slope when using granular compound feed is 20-25 degrees, and when feeding with grain - 12-15 degrees.

A plywood feeder is also a simple fixture. Only it is more difficult to care for it than for plastic products. Antiseptic coating may help, but plastic is still more hygienic

The horizontal platform in front of the inclined plane is the place where the food will fall. A common problem with many homemade structures is the lack of restraints, thanks to which chickens cannot climb into the feeder, scatter food and spoil the food with their waste products. In this case, the problem is solved with the help of restrictive sides. The front side must be made at least 6 cm, and the side - two times more.

The advantages of this design are its spaciousness and security. Using this device, you can be sure that the feed will last for a long time, it will be spent rationally, it will not wake up and will not be spoiled.

It remains to attach the front wall and you're done. The feeder will last a long time if it is carefully treated with antiseptic preparations. Use an airbrush for this purpose. A finished and even elegant look will give the product a coating acrylic paint. You can assemble all the parts together with a screwdriver and self-tapping screws.

Option # 5 - plastic fixtures

Food-grade plastic is an excellent material from which you can make convenient drinking bowls and the same “plates” for chickens. The undoubted advantage of these devices is their mobility. They can be carried and placed where it is convenient for the farmer.

To work, you need to prepare:

two plastic buckets;
two water bottles that are used in a household cooler;
a piece of polypropylene pipe about 25 cm long and of large diameter;
electric drill and drills 20 and 8 mm in diameter;
electric jigsaw.

It is necessary to make holes in the buckets in such a way that the birds freely reach for water and food, but could not climb inside. To make the openings the same and neat, you can use a template. Applying it to the walls of the buckets and circling it with a felt-tip pen, we get the contours of future holes.

From the point of view of aesthetic perception, these drinkers and feeders are very good. But they are also incredibly functional.

We outline the hole by drilling a hole in each with a drill of 8 mm in diameter. For cutting openings, we use an electric jigsaw. For plastic, a file is suitable for both wood and metal, but you need to choose a product with a small tooth.

From a piece of polypropylene pipe we make two stops: for food and for water. Thanks to this device, the mouth of the container will not touch the bottom of the bucket, and it will be possible to control the supply of feed and water. We divide the pipe with a jigsaw into segments of 10 and 15 cm. We take a short piece and drill three holes at a distance of 3 cm from the edge with a drill of 20 mm in diameter. In a long section of the pipe, we also drill holes with the same drill, but at a distance of 5 cm from the edge. Next, we cut out segments with a jigsaw in a long segment to get a semblance of a crown with three teeth.

It is very convenient that the buckets have handles for which these structures can be transferred to the place of use. There you can either install fixtures or hang them all by the same handles

We fill the containers with water and food. We put a long limiter on the bottle with food, and a short one on the one with water. We cover the containers with buckets and turn over. The fixtures are ready. So easily and quickly both a feeder and a drinking bowl can be made from materials that are easy to get. Thanks to the presence of handles, both devices are easy to carry. This is the most hygienic and successful option.

Video master class: bottle feeder

There are more ways to make a fattening device. To eliminate this obvious injustice, we invite you to watch a video on how to make a very simple drinker for chickens from plastic bottles that you can buy at any store.

Any household requires investments: physical and financial. When raising chickens, the main concern is feeding the birds. The offered factory products are expensive, but easy to use. It is not difficult to make a chicken feeder with your own hands, and for this you can use various materials.

A well-designed feeder saves time and effort for the owner of poultry, which is especially important when keeping large livestock. A properly made container for drinking and feed improves the productivity of chickens, and you can also take care of the health of birds, since various pathogens can enter the body of animals through contaminated food and water.

What is a chicken feeder

A bird feeder can be made from any material and can be molded into almost any shape and size. But the convenience of feeding the birds depends on the feed supply process, since it is more convenient to pour food to the chickens once a day than to run several times a day to the poultry house (Figure 1).

According to the method of serving food, containers for dry and wet food are divided into the following types:

Tray: great for feeding chickens, as the containers are made with sides that prevent the feed from spilling.
Grooved models with additional stops: the inside of the tank is equipped with dividing partitions that will serve as compartments for different types fodder. Such models can be made both floor and mounted.
Bunker: This type of feeder is intended for dry compound feed and grain. They are designed to be refilled infrequently with food that will stay dry and clean and can be dispensed.

Figure 1. Types of containers (from left to right): tray, flute and bunker

Homemade automatic feeders only look complicated in design. In fact, it is quite possible to make such containers for chickens with your own hands, if you know how to do it correctly. We will reveal all the necessary nuances in the following sections.

Design requirements

There are few requirements for chicken feeders, which are mainly aimed at economical use of feed and ease of use (Figure 2).

The main requirements for feed containers are as follows:

Rational use of feed: the entire structure must be such that chickens cannot climb into it and scatter food or spoil it with their waste products. This effect can be achieved using various elements of the feeder (sides, turntables, jumpers, nets), which will protect the bulk of the grain inside the tank.
Ease of daily use: the structure must be freely cleaned and filled with food. In addition, it should be convenient for birds, for example, be installed at an optimal height relative to the floor.
The optimal size of the feeder and the volume for feed: the volume of the container should be enough for at least one daily feeding of birds, and the dimensions of the structure are selected so that all the livestock in the house have free access to food.
Appropriateness of use: each type of construction from a certain material must be used under specific view food. For example, it is better to take metal feeders under dry grain mixtures, since upon contact with certain liquids, metal can begin to produce components that are harmful to the health of birds.
Security: strength and stability of the structure also plays an important role. The material for the feeder must be durable and not deform during operation, and also be non-toxic to birds. The structure must be stable on contact, not tip over or fall on its side. You can use wooden, polypropylene or metal models. The main thing is that they do not have sharp corners and parts that can damage the bird.

Figure 2. All containers must be functional and absolutely safe for birds.

Making a feeder with your own hands is quite simple. To do this, it is enough to decide on its type (floor, suspended, bunker, etc.), choose a suitable scheme or drawing for manufacturing, and also prepare tools and materials for work.

Types of materials used

Bird feed structures can be made from a variety of materials. When choosing a material for a feeder, you need to consider what type of food it is intended for (Figure 3).

Note: In fact, the container can be made from any material at hand: from scraps of plywood, wood, sewer or plastic pipes.

The material differences are:

Wooden: the most common type of construction, which is intended for pouring dry feed. Wood is best suited for grain, animal feed and mineral supplements.
Plastic: feeders made of this material are ideal for wet food, which is then easier to wash in a container. Steel structures are also suitable, but ferrous metal corrodes when exposed to moisture, and stainless steel is not a cheap material.
Metal: the use of metal will be appropriate in the manufacture of grass bins. In this case, a V-shaped container is made with a blank back wall made of tin, and the front part is closed with rods or mesh.

Figure 3. The feeder can be made from any improvised materials: wood, metal or plastic

Simple models can also be made from PVC pipe scraps, especially since this material is very convenient and practical to use.

Feeder Options

There is a wide variety of chicken feeders on the agricultural utensils market, but you can save money and make a similar analogue with your own hands.

As you can use almost all the materials that are at hand (boxes, boards, pipes, plastic bottles, etc.). The main condition for the manufacture of a structure for chicken feed is safety for the health of birds. Next, consider possible options feeders that can be installed on paddocks and in cages.

Bunker from pieces of wood

The hopper feeder option for chickens is suitable for those who do not have the opportunity to frequently add feed to the container. The principle of operation of such a model is based on the dosed delivery of food to birds, as the previous portion is eaten. It is not difficult to make such a container with your own hands (Figure 4).

The beginning of the manufacturing process of such a design is at the stage of preparing the necessary materials and equipment:

Wood or a piece of strong thick plywood.
Electric drill, a set of drills.
Saw.
Sandpaper.
A couple of loops.
Pencil.
Screwdriver.
Roulette.

The manufacture of a wood bunker feeder begins with the preparation of a working drawing.

After that, the dimensions from the diagram are transferred to the wood and drawing all the elements of the required sizes:

Bottom 29x17 cm.
Two side walls 40 cm high, with a top edge of 24 and a bottom of 29 centimeters.
Top cover 26x29 cm.
Two rectangles for the front wall 70x29 and 28x29 cm.
Back wall 40x29cm.

The assembly of all elements of a wooden feeder for laying hens can be carried out in the following sequence:

After cutting out all parts of the bunker feeder, we make holes for the screws in the required places using an electric drill.
We process all surfaces with sandpaper so that they become smooth and safe for birds.
We collect all the elements into a single structure and fasten them with screws. If you need to achieve maximum density, then in this case you can use a clamp. It is also worth fixing the front and back walls at an angle of 15 degrees.
Using the hinges, we mount the cover to the rear of the side walls.

Figure 4. Drawing and photo for the manufacture of a bunker model

At the final stage, you need to treat the product with an antiseptic. It is forbidden to use varnishes and paints in the surface treatment of the feeder, as they can be toxic to chickens.

In the form of a trough

A trough-shaped feeder is the simplest option, which is suitable for owners of a large number of birds who have a canopy on the run in case of rain (Figure 5).

Note: To create such a design, you will need a hammer, thick boards or plywood, screws and nails, a saw, a pencil, a ruler and a tape measure.

Making a chicken feeder in the form of a trough with your own hands begins with the preparation of the necessary elements according to a drawing drawn up in advance.

Bottom - 15x100 cm;
Two side walls - 8x100 cm;
One beam - 2x3100 cm;
Small end walls 15 cm wide and height corresponding to the long side and bottom thickness.

Figure 5. A simple trough model is easy to make from improvised materials

The assembly of the parts of the feeder should be carried out upon completion of cutting out all the necessary structural elements. You can connect all the elements together using self-tapping screws or nails. It is recommended not to leave gaps, as food can spill out through them. The bottom of the feeder should be heavy and thick enough so that the birds cannot tip over the trough inside the cage or on the paddock.

Bunk

AT this species feeders most often pour dry food, but you can fill it with various mixers. Due to the presence of a second tier, this option is suitable for a small poultry house, as it saves free space (Figure 6).

For the manufacture of the structure, the following materials and tools are needed:

Figure 6. Two-tier model helps save space in the house

The manufacture of a two-tiered wooden feeder for chickens begins with the preparation of the necessary parts. The main element in this design will be the lower tier with a height of 25 cm and a width of 26 centimeters. The length of the container will depend on the number of birds. Next, you should make special grooves into which the damper will be inserted.

The second tier of the device will be a small trough with a side height of 10 cm. It is necessary to install the second tier on the ends of the first, and then attach them with loops.

Detailed instructions for making a plastic pipe feeder are given in the video.