Grandpas Large Chicken Feeder

I've used this large Grandpas chook/chicken treadle feeder for about 6 years and there's no doubt the quality and build is outstandingly good.

I personally had no issues with the operation or assembly of the feeder and my flock learn't how to use it within a week! The instructions for how to teach birds to use the feeder were easy to follow and clear.

I have also used this feeder successfully with ducks - they adapted a little slower but after a few weeks of watching my hens use the feeder they soon took to it like a duck to water lol. Unfortunately, the local wild ducks also learn't how to use the feeder so I would recommend to locate this feeder in a restricted place if you have larger wild birds in your area with the weight to open the lid.

Whilst on the subject of wildlife, other animals will also learn how to open the feeder (if they gain access to where the feeder is kept) such as possums or similar larger animals - so be aware if you hear the feeder lid banging down during the night it's probably not a hen using it!

The newer Grandpas treadle feeder models come with a stainless mesh that is fitted over the top of the feed chamber/opening. The older models didn't have this mesh but they were posted out for free to customers who requested it for them to retrofit the mesh to their older feeder. The reason for the mesh was to try and stop hens from raking through the feed and dragging it out spilling feed over the ground.

Whilst this mesh does help it certainly doesn't stop the problem and I found my feeder still spilt an unacceptable amount of feed over the ground causing feed waste and attracting birds or rodents. Part of the problem is the feeder design being gravity fed from the top chamber meaning as the bird eats or drags the food forward more feed spills into the chamber until the build up overflows.

It's such a shame that the feed spillage issue still remains because this really is a quality product and excellent chicken feeder - one of the best. If my pen was contained and excluded all other animals the feed spill may not be an issue but that's not the case. For close to $300 this is probably one of the most expensive chicken feeders on the domestic market and although it's great quality I feel it could be better value.

Overall, this is a top feeder that could be better if it was spill proof but if some feed spillage over the ground doesn't concern you then I do recommend it for you flock.