Raising backyard chickens comes with many benefits including fresh eggs, improved self reliance and adding excitement around the homestead. Like all animals, chickens need adequate access to nutritious foods and clean water to stay healthy and keep laying the delicious eggs we enjoy.
Whether you’re growing your flock or simply improving your coop’s food and water access, choosing the right chicken feeder and waterer is important for the health and productivity of your feathered friends.
Types of Chicken Feeders and Waterers
Hanging Feeders and Waterers
Hanging chicken feeders and waterers have remained popular among poultry growers for many years. As expected, Hanging feeders can be suspended from a coop ceiling and adjusted to meet the specific needs of your chickens. Hanging feeders are often used in large walk-in coops where they are easy to manage and place. They are ideal for older birds and are an effective deterrent for small rodent populations in coops by preventing easy access to food.
Ground Style Poultry Feeders and Waterers
Ground and trough style poultry feeders work well in most coop situations. Ground feeders often range in their capacity making them ideal for any flock size. While these ground feeders are often placed on the floor of a coop or on a block, some feeders and waters feature attachable legs to help keep the feed and water access trays off the ground. This helps reduce contamination from bedding and debris getting inside the trays. Trough style feeders and waterers are also used by simply placing them on the floor of the coop or on a block. The troughs are often elongated pans that are either open faced or covered with access slots to help reduce debris from getting in the water or feed. Trough feeders are limited in the amount of feed and water they can provide, but they are easy to clean and fill making them ideal for chicks or small flocks.
Treadle Poultry Feeders
Treadle Poultry feeders are designed to limit waste. Feed is added to the box compartment and chickens must learn to access it by stepping on a panel to open the feeder. Treadle feeders are optimal for birds in a free-range situation or anywhere that rodents or small birds are a major problem. Using a treadle style poultry feeder can help ensure your birds have constant access to fresh food while preventing loss and contamination by unwanted guests.
Wall-Mounted Feeders
Wall-mounted feeders are growing in popularity with small backyard chicken owners due to their convenient designs. These feeders are often tall and provide good food storage with an opening at the base for chickens to access. As you might expect, wall-mounted feeders are stationary and are not ideal for large flocks due to their limited access but their enclosed design helps keep debris contamination to a minimum.
Self-Serve Water Stations
Self-serve water stations include nipple bucket or tube water stations. These waters provide constant access to clean water to chickens as they learn how to use the nozzles. Because the water is completely enclosed, less debris and bacteria builds up in the water, keeping it cleaner and fresh for longer.
Poultry Feeders and Waterers for Chicks
Chicks require feed and water stations suited to their smaller size. Choose waterers and feeders that are designed especially for chicks to ensure the small birds can easily and safely access their food and water.
Chick Feeders
Using stations labeled specifically for chicks helps young birds easily access food. These feeders will often have a shorter base with a smaller trough. If you do use a full-size chicken feeder, place blocks around the base so that your chicks can easily reach the trough.
Always avoid overfilling your feeders to prevent feed from going stale. Depending on the number of chicks in your brood, consider re-filling the feeders every couple of days.
Chick Waterers
Having the right water station is especially important with young birds. Chicks can easily fall-in and drown in full size chicken waterers. Shallow, chick-specific waterers are the best way to prevent accidents.
Placing the waterer on a small block can also help keep shavings or bedding from getting inside the water and contaminating it but remember to clean out any debris daily. Make sure the chicks can easily reach the water and that the water stays clean and fresh to keep your birds healthy.
How Much Feed Do Chickens Need?
Full grown chickens will eat approximately ¼ pound of feed per day. Your adult birds will also drink one to two pints of water per day depending on their size and climate. Choose feeders and waterers that can accommodate your entire flock with enough space to prevent overcrowding.
A single 12 pound feeder and a two gallon waterer works really well for a smaller flock of one to six birds. Using a large feeder in a small flock might be convenient and reduce refilling, but it can also lead to moldy and stale feed, resulting in waste.
On the other hand, Large flocks require either a large feeder and waterer or several smaller ones that are spaced out. The benefit of using large feed and water stations is that they won’t need to be filled as often. A 30-60 pound feeder and a five gallon waterer would be ideal for flocks of 20+ birds.
Keep your feeders refilled every few days to prevent feed from becoming stale or moldy. If your chickens stop eating, it may be because the feed has gone bad. Plan on filling your chicken waterers with fresh water at least every other day. They will drink fresh water much better than if it’s stale and full of bacteria.
Poultry Feeder and Waterer Placement
The location of your feeders and waters impacts the types of stations that will work best for your flock. For example, if your chickens are free range or inside a run you will need a station that is durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions and that is enclosed to prevent wild birds and rodents from contaminating and stealing feed.
On the other hand, if your chickens are inside a coop or an enclosed run, make sure your feed and water stations are adequately spaced. This allows your birds to easily access the food and water and reduces competition.
Additionally, place your water and feed stations at a height that is comfortable for your chickens, but also difficult for rodents and other pests to access. Hanging feeders and feeders with leg stands are often ideal for rodent prevention within your coop.
Cleaning and Maintenance for Poultry Feeders
Regularly cleaning and sanitizing your water and feed stations is the best way to prevent the spread of disease and illness among your chickens. When selecting a waterer or feeder, make sure it is easy to dismantle and clean. This prevents the growth of bacteria and ensures your chickens have access to clean water and feed at all times.
When to Clean Your Chicken's Water and Feeders
In a perfect world, feeders and waterers should be cleaned weekly–but really, who has that kind of time? Set up a cleaning schedule to thoroughly wash your waterers and feeders every couple weeks or at least once per month and clean out visible debris daily.
Bacteria grows rapidly in water and feed that birds are using, especially inside a warm brooder. Bacteria filled water and moldy feed are quick ways to end up with sick chicks or chickens.
How to Clean Chicken Waterers and Feeders
Empty Completely
Start by removing any remaining feed or water from the containers and dispose of it properly.
Disassemble
Disassemble the feeder and waterer, if possible, making sure to remove all parts and accessories.
Scrub & Rinse Thoroughly
Use a brush or sponge with warm soapy water to scrub away any dirt, debris or mold that may have accumulated. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any soap residue. If there are any stubborn stains or build-up, you can use a mixture of vinegar and water or a weak chlorine solution to clean waterers and feeders.Make sure to rinse them well afterwards.
Dry Completely
Lastly, allow the feeder and waterer to air dry completely before reassembling and refilling them with fresh feed and water. Regularly cleaning your chicken feeder and waterer will help prevent the spread of diseases and ensure your flock has access to clean food and water.
Grow Healthy Chickens with IFA
Raising chickens is rewarding and fun for any size backyard or farm. Help your chickens grow with the nutrition and water they need to keep laying delicious eggs by selecting the best water and feed stations.
Swing by your local IFA for the best feeders, waterers and nutritious IFA poultry feeds. Ask one of our knowledgeable IFA poultry experts if you have any questions about poultry products and feed and water stations.
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Information for this article was provided by Maureen Goodrich, Office Manager, Logan IFA Country Store; Sandie Shupe, Poultry, Rabbit & Animal Health Manager, Ogden IFA Country Store; and Terry Boren, IFA Poultry Category Manager.