New DIY Homemade Wood Trough Chicken Feeder

My wife came home the other day as I was nearing completion of this wood feeder. It only required about 45 minutes in making. She say's " I see you made a tool box', what's it for? You already have 'good' tool boxes! I'll admit it does resemble an old style toolbox used in years gone by.

I made this feeder from 1/4 inch thick plywood. It's about three foot long, eight inches tall and five inches in width. It seemed my flock would waste food from other style feeders by scratching their beaks in them and throwing food all over the ground. This style feeder has completely solved that problem. You cannot see it in images but I used a 2 x 6 wood board for the base which added weight so the feeder cannot be tipped over. The chickens took to it right away!







Image to show how the ends were designed. Not actually square as I was using a jig saw.





The only draw back I've noticed is one chicken likes to sit on top but with it being about 5 inches wide they cannot really 'poop' in it. The top handle is 3 inches wide.

Oh, I do like this! I am looking for some type of feeder that does not take up alot of space in the coop and that they can eat from both sides.....yes, I like this! Thanks for sharing! ~Beulah

Nice old style feed trough I used a wire instead of a board across the top, to keep them out of the feed and off the feeder.

Den in Penn said:

Nice old style feed trough I used a wire instead of a board across the top, to keep them out of the feed and off the feeder.

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Great idea! Thanks for sharing that Den!

Going to make one for myself today.

It does look like an ole tool box from days gone by. What a neat idea!! Now to get my hubby moving to make me one.

While I was painting the new pop door for the run I thought of something to think on. If you have it in side like I do a wire is fine. If its going to be outside a board wide enough to cover the feed would be better to keep the feed dry.

i like it alot. good idea

RedBarnFarms said:

The only draw back I've noticed is one chicken likes to sit on top but with it being about 5 inches wide they cannot really 'poop' in it. The top handle is 3 inches wide.

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Nice feeder.

Tip --
If you can take the flat top board out and replace it with a 1" dowel rod.
Just cut the dowel rod a little short [you want some play in there] and drill a hole in each end of the dowel a little bigger than the nail you are going to use then pound the nail through the side boards and into the hole you drilled. Each time a bird goes to roost on the dowel it will spin and the bird cant keep its balance well.

Chris

Chris09 said:

Nice feeder.

Tip --
If you can take the flat top board out and replace it with a 1" dowel rod.
Just cut the dowel rod a little short [you want some play in there] and drill a hole in each end of the dowel a little bigger than the nail you are going to use then pound the nail through the side boards and into the hole you drilled. Each time a bird goes to roost on the dowel it will spin and the bird cant keep its balance well.

Chris

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Hey Chris, thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll do that!