Keeping chickens can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re raising them for eggs, meat, or simply as backyard pets. However, ensuring that your chickens have a constant supply of food and water can be time-consuming, especially if you have a busy schedule. Luckily, with a few simple materials and a bit of creativity, you can create automatic chicken feeders and waterers from plastic bottles. In this article, we’ll provide a detailed guide on how to make these convenient and cost-effective chicken accessories, allowing you to spend less time on chores and more time enjoying your feathered friends.

• Gather Your Materials:
• Before getting started, gather the following materials:
• Plastic bottles (various sizes depending on the desired capacity)
• Utility knife or scissors
• Drill with drill bits
• Sandpaper or file
• Chicken feed
• Chicken waterer nipples or poultry water cups
• Silicone sealant (optional)
• Wire or string (for hanging feeders/waterers)
• Make Automatic Chicken Feeders:
• To create automatic chicken feeders, follow these steps:

• a. Choose a plastic bottle size that suits your flock size and feeding frequency. Larger bottles will require less frequent refilling.
• b. Use a utility knife or scissors to carefully cut a hole in the bottom of the bottle large enough for the chicken feed to flow through.
• c. Smooth any rough edges using sandpaper or a file to prevent injury to your chickens.
• d. Fill the bottle with chicken feed and secure the lid tightly.
• e. Hang the feeder at an appropriate height for your chickens using wire or string.
• Build Automatic Chicken Waterers:
• For automatic chicken waterers, the process is slightly different:
• a. Select a plastic bottle size based on your flock size and water consumption.
• b. Drill a hole near the bottom of the bottle large enough to accommodate the chicken waterer nipple or poultry water cup.
• c. Insert the waterer nipple or poultry water cup into the hole, ensuring a snug fit. You may need to use silicone sealant to create a watertight seal.
• d. Fill the bottle with clean water and secure the lid tightly.
• e. Hang the waterer at a comfortable height for your chickens, making sure it is stable and won’t tip over.
• Install and Test:
• Once your automatic feeders and waterers are assembled, it’s time to install them in your chicken coop or run. Hang them securely from a stable structure, ensuring they are easily accessible to your chickens. Fill the feeders with chicken feed and the waterers with fresh water, then observe to ensure that they are functioning properly.
• Maintenance and Monitoring:
• Regularly check and clean your automatic feeders and waterers to prevent mold, algae, or bacterial growth. Refill them as needed to ensure your chickens always have access to food and water. Monitor the condition of the bottles and replace them if they become damaged or worn.

 Here are 5 detailed ideas for DIY automatic feeders and waterers.

1. Gravity-Powered Feeder from a Plastic Bottle

Materials Needed:

• Large plastic bottle (e.g., 2-liter soda bottle)
• Utility knife
• Hot glue gun
• Small tray or shallow bowl

Steps:

1. Prepare the Bottle: Clean the bottle thoroughly and remove any labels.
2. Cut Openings: Using a utility knife, cut several small openings near the bottom of the bottle. These openings should be large enough for the feed to flow out but not so large that it pours out too quickly.
3. Attach the Tray: Hot glue the bottle upright in the center of the tray. Ensure it is securely attached.
4. Fill with Feed: Fill the bottle with chicken feed. Gravity will pull the feed down through the openings and into the tray, providing a steady supply of food.

2. Automatic Waterer Using a Plastic Jug

Materials Needed:

• Large plastic jug (e.g., 1-gallon milk jug)
• Utility knife
• Small plastic container (e.g., a yogurt container)
• Hot glue gun

Steps:

1. Prepare the Jug: Clean the jug and remove any labels.
2. Cut the Opening: Cut a small hole near the bottom of the jug, just above the level of the yogurt container.
3. Attach the Container: Hot glue the yogurt container in place so that it sits under the hole in the jug.
4. Fill with Water: Fill the jug with water. Water will flow into the container until it reaches the level of the hole, stopping when the container is full.

3. Hanging Bottle Feeder

Materials Needed:

• 2-liter plastic bottle
• Scissors
• String or wire
• Small tray or pie tin

3. Hanging Bottle Feeder

Materials Needed:

• 2-liter plastic bottle
• Scissors
• String or wire
• Small tray or pie tin

Steps:

1. Prepare the Bottle: Clean and dry the bottle.
2. Cut Openings: Cut small holes near the bottom of the bottle for the feed to come out.
3. Attach the Tray: Secure the tray or pie tin under the bottle’s openings using hot glue.
4. Create a Hanging Mechanism: Punch holes in the bottle’s neck and thread a string or wire through to create a hanger.
5. Fill and Hang: Fill the bottle with feed and hang it in your chicken coop.

4. PVC Pipe Feeder

Materials Needed:

• PVC pipe (about 3 feet long)
• End caps for PVC pipe
• Elbow joints for PVC pipe
• PVC cement
• Utility knife or saw

Steps:

1. Prepare the Pipe: Cut the PVC pipe to the desired length (around 3 feet).
2. Attach Elbows and End Caps: Using PVC cement, attach an elbow joint to one end of the pipe and an end cap to the other end.
3. Create the Feeder Base: Attach another piece of PVC pipe to the other side of the elbow joint to act as the base where the feed will be dispensed.
4. Cut Openings: Cut a small opening near the bottom of the upright pipe.
5. Mount the Feeder: Secure the feeder to a wall or post inside the chicken coop.
6. Fill with Feed: Fill the PVC pipe with feed. The feed will flow down through the pipe and into the base.

5. Bucket Waterer with Nipples

Materials Needed:

• 5-gallon plastic bucket with lid
• Chicken water nipples (available at farm supply stores)
• Drill with appropriate-sized bit for water nipples

Steps:

1. Drill Holes: Drill holes in the bottom of the bucket for the water nipples.
2. Install Nipples: Screw the water nipples into the holes.
3. Fill with Water: Fill the bucket with water and secure the lid.
4. Mount the Bucket: Hang or place the bucket in a shaded area of the chicken coop to keep the water cool.
5. Teach the Chickens: Ensure the chickens know how to use the nipples by gently pressing their beaks to them to release water.

Conclusion

Creating DIY automatic feeders and waterers for your chickens not only ensures they have a constant supply of food and water but also saves you time and effort. These simple, cost-effective solutions can be made from materials you likely already have at home, making them both practical and sustainable. By implementing these ideas, you can keep your chickens happy and healthy with minimal hassle.

Give them a try and enjoy the convenience of automatic feeding and watering for your feathered friends!