The DIY PVC chicken feeder is a popular and sustainable choice for chicken enthusiasts who value efficiency and durability. To make one, you’ll need a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe, two 90-degree elbow connectors, a 4-inch diameter PVC end cap, PVC cement, and a saw. Cut the PVC pipe to your desired length, attach the connectors, and secure them with PVC cement. Finish by adding the PVC end cap, and you’ll have a homemade chicken feeder ready to use.
9 DIY Chicken Feeder Ideas
Cheap Homemade Chicken Feeder Ideas for Beginners
A cost-effective chicken feeder doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on quality. For beginners in poultry farming, one of the best homemade chicken feeder ideas involves using common household items. A perfect example is a simple plastic jug or soda bottle feeder. With a bit of creative repurposing, these readily available items can provide an ideal feeding solution.
Start by cutting a few small holes near the bottom of the jug or bottle. Ensure the holes are big enough for the chicken feed to pass through but small enough to prevent waste. Attach a dish or tray to the bottom using super glue, ensuring it’s large enough to catch any feed from the holes. Once the glue has dried, fill the jug or bottle with feed. The feed will gradually dispense into the dish as the chickens eat, making this a perfect DIY automatic chicken feeder.
How to Make a DIY Gravity-Fed Chicken Feeder
A gravity-fed chicken feeder is an excellent solution for poultry owners who want an easy way to keep their chicken feed clean and accessible. The design principle is simple; as the chickens eat the feed from the bottom, more feed drops down from the top, keeping the supply constant.
You need a 5-gallon bucket with a lid, a few small plastic plant pots, a drill, and bolts and nuts for this feeder. Cut holes in the side of the bucket, big enough for the plant pots to fit snugly. Attach the pots through the holes using bolts and nuts, ensuring the pots’ rims are flush with the bucket wall. Fill the bucket with feed and secure the lid. As the chickens eat from the pots, gravity will pull more feed into them, making it a fantastic zero-waste chicken feeder DIY project.
Inexpensive Chicken Feeder DIY Hacks for Small Budgets
If you’re on a tight budget but still want to provide the best homemade chicken feeder for your flock, you can try numerous inexpensive chicken feeder DIY hacks. A great option is a DIY tin can chicken feeder. All you need are some large tin cans, a drill, a piece of wire or string for hanging, and some creativity.
Drill holes in the sides of the tin cans near the bottom. Ensure the holes are large enough for the chicken feed but small enough to prevent waste. Attach a wire or string to the top of each tin can, creating a hanging chicken feeder DIY setup. Fill the cans with feed and hang them in the chicken coop. This simple but effective feeder is not only budget-friendly but also helps in minimizing feed waste.
Creative Upcycled Materials for DIY Chicken Feeders
Upcycling is a creative and eco-friendly way of creating chicken feeders. From old wooden crates to discarded plastic containers, a wealth of materials is waiting to be transformed into practical feeders. For instance, an old wine bottle can be made into an automatic dispenser. Fasten it upside down onto a shallow dish, ensuring the dish’s edge reaches the bottle’s neck.
As the chickens eat, the feed from the bottle will naturally replenish the dish. This elegant solution is another excellent example of a DIY automatic chicken feeder. Similarly, a discarded rain gutter can be transformed into a fantastic trough-style chicken feeder. Cut it to your desired length, cap the ends, and voila! You have a feeder that can serve multiple chickens at once. Be sure to secure it comfortably for your chickens to minimize waste.
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Simple Homemade Chicken Feeder Plans for Backyard Flocks
Keeping a backyard flock is rewarding and cost-effective with homemade chicken feeder plans. One easy option is a wooden trough-style feeder. Cut the plywood into base, side, and end pieces to build it. Nail the sides to the base and the ends to the sides, creating a topless box. Customize the size according to your flock. Add an overhanging top to prevent roosting and keep the feed dry. This sturdy feeder can hold much feed, which is ideal for DIY projects in backyard flocks.
DIY No-Waste Chicken Feeder: Save Money on Feed
Chickens naturally peck and scratch, which can waste much feed. But you can save money by making a DIY, no-waste chicken feeder. You’ll need a 5-gallon bucket with a tight lid and feeding ports. These ports have small holes that let the chickens peck at the feed without scattering it.
Cut holes in the bucket’s side near the bottom, just big enough for the feeding ports. Insert the ports and secure them with screws or silicone. Fill the bucket with feed, secure the lid, and let the chickens peck through the ports. This design stops them from taking out large amounts or spilling the feed.
Affordable DIY Automatic Chicken Feeder Ideas
If you can’t regularly refill the feeder, an automatic chicken feeder can help. One option is to use a large plastic container with a hole near the bottom for a dish. Fill the container with feed, secure the lid, and the feed will flow into the dish as the chickens eat. Another option is to use a PVC pipe with a Y-connector. Attach the Y-connector to one end of the pipe and fill the pipe with feed. Gravity will bring more feed into the Y-connector as it gets consumed.
Repurposed Household Items for DIY Chicken Feeders
Save money and reduce waste by repurposing household items as DIY chicken feeders. Use old dishware as a gravity-fed feeder by attaching an upside-down jar or bottle to a dish and filling it with feed. Alternatively, repurpose a used plastic milk jug by cutting holes in the sides and filling it with feed. Add stones inside to shake the feed down as the chicken peck, providing a steady supply. It’s a great option for budget-friendly homemade chicken feeders, especially for beginners.
Easy DIY Bucket Chicken Feeder Tutorial: Budget-Friendly Option
The bucket feeder stands out among DIY chicken feeders due to its simplicity, affordability, and practicality. It’s a great project for making a large chicken feeder that simultaneously accommodates multiple chickens. To create a DIY chicken feeder, gather a bucket with a lid, a couple of pans or dishes, and a drill.
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Drill holes near the bucket’s base, just above the bottom, ensuring they are large enough for the feed to flow. Position the drilled bucket on the pans or dishes, aligning the holes with the dishes. Fill the bucket with feed, secure the lid, and the feed will flow into the dishes as the chickens eat, providing an easy and cost-effective chicken feeder.
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