How to Make a Gravity Chicken Feeder from a Bucket
A lidded bucket, a drill and a set of feeder ports make a simple gravity feeder. This guide covers the materials, marking and cutting the holes, fitting the ports, where to put the feeder and how to keep the feed dry.
A gravity feeder is a lidded container that holds a supply of feed, with openings near the base. As the chickens eat, the feed settles down toward the openings. A food-grade bucket is a common starting point for a DIY version because it is inexpensive, it has a lid and it is easy to drill. This guide shows how to turn a bucket into a feeder with a set of feeder ports, step by step, and how to keep it dry and clean. It is a short project that needs a drill, a hole saw and some care.
What you need
- A clean bucket or barrel with a lid. Choose food-grade plastic, and avoid one that held paint, chemicals or anything else you would not want near feed.
- Feeder ports that fit the hole you will cut. A port kit usually comes with a hole saw sized for its ports. If you buy ports separately, check the hole size they need.
- A drill and a hole saw of the right diameter.
- A marker, a tape measure and sandpaper to smooth the cut edges.
- Eye protection, and a piece of scrap wood to brace the bucket when you drill.
Mark the port holes
Decide how many ports you want. A standard 5-gallon bucket is roughly a foot across, so three or four ports spaced evenly around the wall is usually easier to fit than six, and the remaining ports can go on a second container. Mark the center of each hole with a marker. Keep the holes above the thick ring at the base of the bucket and low enough that feed can slide to the opening, and a couple of inches up from the bottom is a common starting point. Space the ports so they do not touch, and leave enough plastic between holes to keep the wall sound. Check that the wall is thick enough to hold a port securely before you drill.
Cut the holes
Put on eye protection and brace the bucket so it cannot spin. Fit the hole saw to the drill and start at a low speed with light pressure, letting the saw do the work. Plastic can grab the saw teeth, so ease off if the drill kicks. When the circle of plastic comes free, clean the edge of the hole with sandpaper so it is smooth. Repeat for each hole.
Fit the ports
Push a port through each hole and turn it until it locks, following the instructions for your ports. Some designs finish with a rubber or sealing ring on the inside, so read the instructions before you fill the bucket. Give each port a gentle tug to confirm that it is secure.
Fill, close and place the feeder
Fill the bucket with dry feed and fit the lid. Put the feeder somewhere dry and sheltered, such as under a roof or in a covered corner of the run. A common rule of thumb is to stand the bucket on a block or hang it so the ports are about level with the birds' backs. Keep it where you can reach it easily for refilling and checking.
Keep the feed dry and the feeder clean
- Check the feeder every day. Look at the ports, the lid and the ground around it.
- Wet feed spoils. If feed is damp, clumped or smells off, throw it out and clean the feeder before you refill it.
- Empty and wash the bucket and ports now and then, and let everything dry fully before you fill it again.
- Keep your bulk feed in a sealed container away from the feeder rather than leaving open bags around.
Troubleshooting
If feed does not reach the port opening, the hole may sit too high, or damp feed may be clumping. Empty the bucket, refill with dry feed and check the hole height. If a port wobbles, check that it is turned fully into its locked position and that the wall is thick enough to hold it. If the lid will not stay on, use a lid with a snug seal or a weight on top, and keep an eye on the feed level so the feeder does not run empty.
A quick recap
- Pick a clean, lidded, food-grade bucket.
- Mark the holes, keeping them evenly spaced and above the base ring.
- Cut the holes with eye protection on, then smooth the edges.
- Lock the ports in, fill with dry feed and fit the lid.
- Place the feeder under cover and check it every day.
If you would rather not source parts one by one, the gravity feeder port kit comes with six ports and a 3.15 in (80 mm) hole saw, which is the size of the hole each port needs. The bucket, a drill and the feed are not included. The manufacturer says the kit suits containers from 5-gallon buckets to larger boxes. You can find more supplies in our Backyard & Poultry collection.