The best DIY chicken feeder - keep feed dry and safe from rodents and birds 

What a great video. I have searched the internet for instructions on how to keep the vectors out of the chicken feed. You did a great job putting this together. You are to the point and don't waste time. Nicely done.

Got my teenage son to make this with your easy to follow directions. Underestimated how smart my chooks were, but this feeder works a treat! Thank you for the idea.

Great idea. I was on the verge of spending $130 on Grandpa's feeder, I will definitely try this first. Thanks!

I made one for my chickens last night thanks to your video! I added similar chains and attached the bucket with a heavy duty steel bracket on the wall. 5 minutes the chickens were pecking on it and 10 minutes later they were all eating .Amazing!

Thank you for the great idea! My dad made one a few days ago after worrying for ages about the rodent problem. The hens figured it out within minutes and it works like a charm. 😊

What a marvelous idea. My wife and I thank you for saving us big on feed bills.

Made one of these yesterday installed it this morning and the chickens are using it by lunch time! Brilliant!

I made this feeder but didn't like the way the 5-gallon bucket performed and switched to a piece of 2" plastic pipe about 36 inches long, now it deliveries all the food down to the last pellet. Thanks

You're an absolute genius mate, cheers from Australia 👍

Wow, what a good idea! I have a bucket with nipples for water and this will compliment it well. I was also excited about the T-post to hang them on. And it looks nice and keeps things clean and sanitary, too. Brilliant! Thank you!

Everyone said I had to "train or show" my chickens how to use "chicken nipples" on a water bucket. We had 1 chicken peck the silver tip, water came out, the rest started pecking the other silver nips. If 1 chicky bird does it, they all want to 😂😂😂😂😂. So ours already know pecking silver-hangy-things get them something. So they should take right to this. Great idea! Thanks for sharing!!

I just made one similar to yours but using a different long plastic screw and it works!! Your a genius and saved me money.😃

Great idea! I'm going to give this a try. I have possums and they make a huge mess spilling the feeder and then it gets all wet and dissolves. Thanks!

Great idea. I’m not having any issues with my current set up using a 5 gal “food grade” bucket with feeder holes the chickens put their heads in to feed but thinking of this will slow down some of their mess they make currently.

Built this a few weeks ago with two toggles in one bucket; smeared peanut butter and then jelly on the toggles for a few days in a row and my 2.5-year-old hens figured it out after a little less than a week. Make sure to use eyebolts and put the loop end inside the bucket. At one point the hens unscrewed the nut/washer, so we may have to use LockTight on it if it happens again. Packrats are still sneaking around but I haven't seen them successfully hit the toggles, and I'm pleased they aren't rummaging around in the food bin, now.

What a fantastic idea! Looking for rat proof feeders when I came across this video. I’m going to give this a shot and hopefully not have to spend big bucks for the pre-made varmint proof feeders. Thanks much 🖤🖤

That looks interesting and can use more PVC to fill them up from outside the coop/run. Thank you!

On ours, I made sure to use what's called "fender washers", which are big washers with a small hole. The 1 - 1/2 inch washer catches a bit of the food that falls, and when the chickens go for that, it releases more food. Chickens are great copycats, so once the first bird gets it, they all want to do it. This is better than any commercial feeder out there, and sure cuts down on waste. Many thanks.

This is INCREDIBLY brilliant and helpful! Out here in the Mojave we find we're often feeding squirrels and mice. The squirrels are the worst because they steal eggs. It's a daily chore setting up the traps, gathering and either killing (squirrels) or releasing (mice). THANK YOU!!

Thanks for sharing this. I think this may be my next feeder if my latest attempt to stop the rats stealing the food does not work!

Love this idea I will make one tomorrow thank you for your video thanks for sharing have a great day

I am definately going to try this, thank you for sharing.

Just happened to be outside today worrying about the wet chicken feed in the feeders. I'll head over to walmart and get a couple buckets and try this out tomorrow. Thanks for sharing this.

The girls really like it once we showed them how to use it and raise it to the proper height. No more rodents in the coop and barn area. Thank you for sharing

Excellent idea. Thank you for posting!!!

We had something similar that we used with a larger drum and the good thing was it was squirrel proof as well. We used with pellets.

I am definitely starting this project soon for my chickens!🐥

Such a great idea!!! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the great idea. Unfortunately we have some smart house sparrows who have learnt to swing on the down piece to make pellets drop down. At least it is rationing them compared to my previous feeder.

If you paint the piece of CPVC red or use a red sharpie marker, it will encourage the chickens to peck the CPVC. But I think I'd try a small piece of red PEX tubing.

Love your name! we are watching that movie right now lol! thanks for the video. this is a must try.

does it work with mixed feed or does it have to be uniform grain only of one kind? Otherwise what would prevent chickens to spill lots of feed on the ground while picking only the stuff they like most?

Have a very similar design I obtained from a you tube page. The hole I drilled in the bucket is a little larger and I have added a n old metal basin to the bucket so the food falls into it. They work very well and take a large quantity of feed.

Thanks for that. Great idea to stop our local flock of house sparrows stealing the chooks food and spreading diseases!

That is just great! I can't wait to try this!

Nice idea . Thanks for posting !

Liked the video...will use your idea...great going!

I added to them a linear actuator that raises/lowers them automatically off the ground another 24” from sunset to sunrise via wifi switch(Alexa). Now 100pct rodent free I can control feeding schdulw. Yes it will cost another $70 but holds a ton of food

This is genius. I love it.

You have a good and smart design. Good job bro

Can you use water from a rain barrel? We have really hot summers and the water from our hose is hot for the first few minutes and I'm wondering if the rain barrel system would also be hot.

I did it and the wild birds at first waited around for the chickens to peck it, then they learnt how to use it. If chickens can learn it, the birds can too.

pretty birds and awesome idea. thank u

Great idea. Gives them something to play with too

LOL That chicken in the background knows whats going on hehe

top notch Job............i will make a couple tomorrow! Thanks

This is a fantastic design! The chickens didn't understand it at first but we showed them how to use it and they understood it immediately. I used a 2 gallon bucket because ours is inside the coop and used an old adjustable bolt leg from a washing machine with a cone shaped plastic end on the feeding side. I like having a bit of weight from the rubber foot so not too much falls out. I didn't have to buy anything I just reused some random parts.

How did you attach the chain to the bucket?

Will this work with laying mash?

Good idea! Thanks for sharing

I like it too. Excellent idea man. Think I'll be subscribing. :).

It's a simple fix! Popped the ground Squirrels but those other birds. Man what a problem they're in my Apricot trees,mostly in my chicken yard.! I'm after this friend simplifies the morning, open their door, out they come to eat and drink peck and scratch. And I will be very happy to see those avian pest go away.

Would it work better to paint the pvc green?

Hod did you train them to peck at the PVC? I love the feeder and just made it yesterday, but I think my chickens are slow at adapting!

Thanks for your bright idea👍,

I just put one of these together. at first my chickens were scared of it. now they will actually go under it and eat the food I put there. but i have no idea how I will get them to peck at the darn thing! Ive been showing them over and over but they just get scared of the noise and run away. I think my chickens might starve if I leave this to there only food source :( . any help or suggestions would be awesome!

This is pure genius. I don't have a ton of money and I don't need feeders to cost three prices and I don't need food wastage. This will even work for small chicks as long as they are with their mom or another caretaker bird...the large bird WILL release food for them which falls on the ground where they can easily eat it......no more worries about if they can get into the feeder or not. My only question, will the crumb feed pack around the bolt and make it hard to move???

how long did it take your chickens to use it?

I made one our of a square ice cream bucket. Works great! My only problem is my beagle has figured out how to work it and eats all the feed. Since I only have 2 chickens, I made one out of a half gallon milk jug cut off and hung it inside the little coop where the dog can't get it.

I like this idea but i have bantys and standard size hens, I am wondering how that will work, i bougth aautomatic feeder so not to get up in wintermorning but i think the rats found away to make the feder relaese food any time and now it dont last, it use to feed them for a week now it doesnt ugrr

how did you teach your chickens to use this? thanks

This is such a great idea. Hopefully, it will foil the pesky pigeons who have cleverly worked out how to use the chicken’s automatic feeder.

The chickens are paying attention in the background 🥰🤣🤣

Very clever ! Thanks

Looks good! You never said what size hole & bolt you used with what type of feed.

now i have to try this for my chickens.

I made too and wonderful thing and idea. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Thanks I am headed to the garage to try this right now. Happen to have everything i need in a junk bin

Great idea going to try this thanks

I really like this idea but I’m curious. Rats and squirrels are pretty smart. What is to keep them from jumping up and hitting the bolt to drop food for themselves?

Any update on its effectiveness?

Thank you for sharing

THX. YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO BE PURCHASING NEXT TIME I GO TO THE HARD WARE STORE. NO MORE BIRDS..RATS..AND FEEDING EVERY DAY. BRAKE FOR ME....

Good Idea, my only problem would be a lot of feed being wasted that way. Feed being spilled, but other than that, its a good idea

Thanks bro, geat idea.

Do the chickens accidentally hit the bolt when they aren't wanting food?

THANKS so much!!

That could get stuck.. I'm not sold. Alright I'm sold.. 🤣

How many weeks would the food last in a five gallon bucket? I really need to know.

Great build. Do you use crumble or pellets?

Would something like this work for ducks? I believe they aren't as prone to pecking???

How does it handle humidity? Does the food get cakey?

Are they able to get enough feed with this method?

The Sparrows figured it out by hanging onto the eye bolt to get to the hole where the feed comes out, then they figured out to move to bobble. I have removed it and will cover the eye bolt with some conduit just big enough for the bobble to move and down to the end of the bobble. I will try this and if it works I will post a picture. either way it was a great idea, thanks mate.

I an deffinetly going to try this.

Muy buen trabajo un saludo desde España

Clean set up. Do you still use this feeder six years later?

Excellent , can you make a video how you change the handles too chain. thanks

hi , i used the same thing for years, but you still get rats , theres always one or two pellets left on the ground,

Instead of the coupling you can use an end cap so you don't need all the washers. Just drill a hole and place a nut on each side.

Feed the chooks once a month.The nuts fell off, still works.A rat chewed the lid, I placed metal protection on top.Best invention this century.

How did you teach the chickens to peck at it?

How far off the ground does this hang?

You probably saved me a lot of money in feed. Do you use pellets, mash or crumble?

Great vid

Awesome, thankyou.

I just saw this video and see it was posted back in 2015. Just curious, how have these feeders held up over time and do they work well? If so, I would like to build one. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

I just found your video, the second one like this. I have about 25 chickens in one coop, 5 in another and 3 in another. Got a serious rodent issue. I like this idea but rodents crawl and they can land n top of the bucket and chew through the top. Thinking I need some sort of metal lid to cover the lid to make it rodent proof so they can chew the plastic lid. Open for suggestions! 😂 Thinking about double layered chicken wire in over lapping in various directions covering the top making it chew proof!

Try a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Will hold 200 lbs of food. They work great for water as well.

Looks like a smart idea!