Anyone try using one of these, they are a 55 gal barrell with a timer operated spin Cast feeder usualy used to bait deer for hunting. Here in michigan baiting has been banned and you can pick up a used one for really cheap.
Unless you could set it to feed just the amount they would eat in a day, you'd be risking it getting moldy on the ground.
Ive seen some modified to drop the feed in a pan, but unless you have a large number of chickens, and no time to attend to them, I don't see where an automated feeder would be an advantage
A NON-mechanical feeder works just as well, and isn't expensive either.
I had considered using mine for feeding my large fowl flock but decided against it for the following reasons.
1- feed gets wet from ground contact if not eaten immediately
2- difficult to ensure that each bird gets adequate feed
3- feed attracts other birds that I don't want to feed
I opted instead to use a Kuhl range feeder. It holds 50 lbs of feed. The feed is never on the ground as the birds must reach inside to get it. I has a dome shaped cover that shields the feed from rain. Each bird can eat as much as they want.