As a new chicken owner I realized that once my chickens (6 Araucanas) were outside and growing faster than ever I would have to fill their old chicken feeder daily. Which is OK, but I didn't have the time.
I found that most commercial feeders at the store cost around $30. I wanted to see if I could build my own for less than that.
So I went to Wal-Mart.![Smile :) :)](/styles/byc-smilies/smile.png)
I bought one five gallon plastic bucket and two lids.
I then drilled a series of wholes around the bottom.
I then placed some spare plywood that I had on the bucket. The layer of wood is about 1" think.
I then screwed the lid to the bottom of the bucket through the plywood.
This shows you how the layers look.
This is the finished "DIY" feeder and the old feeder I had in the brooder box. The waterer in the back is a 1 gallon waterer.
When it's all assembled it holds about 25lbs of chicken feed which lasts my six chickens about three weeks. I do have to come out and shake it occasionally, but I'm out there with them anyway so it's not really a problem.
All I had to buy were the two lids and the bucket. I got them from the painting supply section of Wal-Mart.
I had the left-over plywood from another house project.
The total cost of this project was about $7.50.
I found that most commercial feeders at the store cost around $30. I wanted to see if I could build my own for less than that.
So I went to Wal-Mart.
![Smile :) :)](/styles/byc-smilies/smile.png)
![60055_img_0931.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0931.jpg)
I bought one five gallon plastic bucket and two lids.
![60055_img_0935.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0935.jpg)
I then drilled a series of wholes around the bottom.
![60055_img_0936.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0936.jpg)
I then placed some spare plywood that I had on the bucket. The layer of wood is about 1" think.
![60055_img_0938.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0938.jpg)
I then screwed the lid to the bottom of the bucket through the plywood.
![60055_img_0937.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0937.jpg)
This shows you how the layers look.
![60055_img_0941.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0941.jpg)
This is the finished "DIY" feeder and the old feeder I had in the brooder box. The waterer in the back is a 1 gallon waterer.
![60055_img_0942.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60055_img_0942.jpg)
When it's all assembled it holds about 25lbs of chicken feed which lasts my six chickens about three weeks. I do have to come out and shake it occasionally, but I'm out there with them anyway so it's not really a problem.
All I had to buy were the two lids and the bucket. I got them from the painting supply section of Wal-Mart.
I had the left-over plywood from another house project.
The total cost of this project was about $7.50.