It’s no secret that chickens can be messy eaters. More often than not, a good portion of the feed you give them ends up scattered around the yard, rather than actually getting eaten. If you’re finding that your chickens are wasting more feed than they’re eating, it’s likely that your feeder is the problem.
This treadle chicken feeder is an excellent way to minimize food waste and keep your chickens’ feed protected from the elements and unwanted visitors.
The feeder always stays closed, only opening when the chickens step on the treadle. This ensures that the feed stays fresh and protected and that your chickens have access to a nutritious meal at all times.
Grandpa's Feeders provide Feed on Demand for your flock. At the same time, Grandpa's Feeders also provide a protected way of feeding your backyard chickens on demand, allowing them to access their food when hungry, ensuring optimal laying and happy chickens. Grandpa's Feeders also allow a number of chickens to eat at once.
When choosing a treadle chicken feeder, it’s important to consider the size and weight of your chickens. Each feeder is designed differently, and the mechanism relies on the weight of the chickens in order to operate correctly. If you’re not sure what size feeder to get, it’s best to DIY it so that you can customize it to fit your flock perfectly.
Your treadle chicken feeder should be calibrated so that your chooks can easily gain access to it, but not the ‘unwanted visitors. You can do this by simply adding or reducing the weight of the lid connected to the treadle.
If the lid opens too easily, use a heavier board. You can also attach any material that would add weight such as small wood scraps or magnets. You can figure it out and improve it by observing the way your chickens are using it. 🙂
Yes – this chicken feeder will require training your chooks, which is a fun and easy task! You can start by placing a weight on the treadle so that it is always open first. This is to make them recognize their new feeder. Then bit by bit, lower the lid, and your chickens will find a way to open their feeder.
Eventually, they will learn that stepping on the treadle will give them access to their food. Chickens are intelligent creatures and will quickly learn to use the feeder. It’s a fun and easy process, and you’ll soon have your chickens eating from it with no problems.
One of the best things about a treadle chicken feeder is that only those who know how to use it can eat from it! So if you’ve got aggressive critters trespassing in your backyard, then this is the chicken feeder for you! Not only will it keep your chicken’s feed safe, but it will also save you money on chicken feed since the treadle feeder will only dispense food when it’s stepped on.
Do you know anyone who needs a treadle chicken feeder?
You’ll need these materials:
- 1 pc 1 x 12 x 10′ Cedar Board
- 1 pc 5/16″ x 6″ x 30″ Plywood
- 1/4 lb 1 1/2″ Wood Screws
- 1/8 lb 3/4″ Wood Screws
- 1/4 lb 1 1/4″ Kreg Screws (optional)
- 4 pcs 1/4″ x 20 Hex Bolts with Nuts (4) and Washers (12)
- 2 pcs 90-degree Hinges
- Sandpaper
And these tools:
- Table Saw
- Belt Sander or 120 grit sandpaper and a block (320 grit for finish sanding)
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Miter Saw
- Band Saw
- Power Drill with 9/64 Tapered Bit with Plug Cutter for Pilot Holes
- Router with Round-over Bit
- Kreg Jig (optional)
- Screw Gun
- Bar Clamps
- Gripping Clamps
Click on any image to start the lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox.
Thanks to Rod’s Woodworking Shop for this great project. You can get step-by-step instructions here…
