Description
This is a treadle chicken feeder in galvanised steel that holds 5kg of feed behind a lid that stays shut until a bird weighing at least 2kg steps on the platform - $63.99. The bird's own weight opens it; when it steps off, the lid closes again.
The reason people buy a treadle feeder is almost never convenience. It is rats. An open feeder is a permanent free meal for rodents and wild birds, and once rats find a food source in a backyard they stay, breed and get into everything else. A lid that only opens under 2kg excludes rats, mice, sparrows and starlings entirely, because none of them weigh anywhere near that. The 5kg capacity is the secondary benefit - you top it up weekly rather than daily, and the feed stays dry.
Specifications
| Material |
Galvanised steel |
| Colour |
Silver |
| Feed capacity |
Approximately 5kg |
| Weight to open lid |
2kg on the treadle |
| Mechanism |
Weight operated - no power, no batteries |
| Platform |
Skid resistant surface |
| Edges |
Smooth finished |
| Dimensions |
Not published by the manufacturer |
What's in the Box
| 1 x |
Automatic treadle chicken feeder |
Why Choose a Treadle Feeder
-
It shuts rats out - a rodent cannot come close to the 2kg needed to open the lid.
-
Wild birds get nothing - sparrows and starlings that empty an open feeder are far too light to trigger it.
-
Feed stays dry - a closed lid keeps rain and dew off 5kg of grain.
-
No power of any kind - it is purely mechanical, so there is nothing to charge, wire or fail.
-
Galvanised steel - it lives outdoors permanently without rusting through.
Will My Chickens Be Heavy Enough?
This is the question to settle before you buy. The treadle needs 2kg on the platform. Standard laying breeds - ISA Browns, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Sussex - are comfortably 2 to 3.5kg fully grown and operate it without difficulty. Bantams and other light breeds usually weigh between 0.5kg and 1.1kg and will not be heavy enough, and neither will pullets that have not finished growing. Please note the manufacturer's own feature list says "suitable for most bantams", which does not square with the 2kg figure in their own specification - we have quoted the 2kg trigger weight, because that is the number that determines whether it will work for your birds.
How Do You Train Chickens to Use It?
Do not just put it out and hope. Set it up with the lid propped fully open for the first few days so the birds learn there is food inside and get used to standing on the platform. Then let the lid close and let them work it out - most birds have it within a week. Keep the old feeder available but progressively emptier during the changeover rather than removing it outright. Chickens are cautious about new objects, and a feeder they have decided is frightening takes far longer to fix than one introduced gradually.
Where Should It Be Positioned?
On firm, level ground inside the run, with enough clear space in front that a bird can stand square on the treadle without being crowded. Do not put it against a wall where a bird could be trapped by the lid, and do not raise it on blocks unless the birds can still step on and off comfortably. Keep it under cover if you can - galvanised steel handles weather well but the feed inside will last longer out of direct rain. If you have several birds, watch the first few days to check a dominant hen is not guarding it.
Buyers are backyard chicken keepers dealing with a rat problem, people tired of refilling an open feeder every day, smallholders, and anyone who has found droppings in the feed. It also sells to people going away for a few days who want the flock fed while they are gone.
Pair it with our 11L automatic chicken drinker so feed and water are both handled. Browse Pet Supplies and Gardening for more backyard and smallholding gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is it?
The manufacturer does not publish dimensions - their specification says to check the gallery photographs. Contact us before ordering if the footprint matters and we will measure one.
Will bantams be able to use it?
Probably not. The lid needs 2kg on the treadle and most bantams weigh under 1.1kg. See the section above.
How many chickens does it feed?
The manufacturer does not state a flock size. Capacity is 5kg of feed, which is roughly a week for four to six standard hens depending on breed and season.
Does it need batteries or power?
No. It is entirely mechanical and weight operated.
Will it keep out rats?
Rats cannot generate the 2kg needed to open the lid. Any feeder is only as rat proof as the way it is used, so do not leave spilled feed on the ground around it.
Can it be left out in the rain?
The galvanised steel is made for outdoor use. Keeping it under cover will still extend the life of the feed inside.
Do you ship Australia wide?
Yes, to every state and territory including regional and remote addresses.
Fast Australian Shipping
We ship from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, plus regional and remote addresses. Orders placed on a business day are picked and dispatched promptly, with tracking emailed to you as soon as the parcel leaves us.
The lid requires 2kg on the treadle to open. Bantams, light breeds and young pullets may not be heavy enough to operate it - check your birds' weight before ordering. Dimensions are not published by the manufacturer. Introduce any new feeder gradually and supervise the flock for the first few days. Feed is not included.
