Is Grandpa's the best automatic chicken feeder? My long-term review.

Do you have a chicken feeder that plays open house to wild birds and rodents?

If you haven't noticed it yet, I guarantee you will...

How do I know? Because it happened to me. And by the time I realised I had a problem, I had a lot less grain and no fewer than three rats' nests.

It’s a common complaint from non-chicken owners: chickens attract rats.

Except it’s not the chickens. It’s the grain. And I was basically running an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Once I understood that, I knew the grain-fests had to stop. Rats can carry disease and contaminate feed. I needed to deal with this problem quickly.

So I got serious. First I had to get rid of the rats. Then I had to make sure they didn’t come back.

I invested in two things: an electric rat trap to deal with the immediate problem, and Grandpa’s automatic feeder to keep the problem away long-term.

Did it work?

Put it this way: I’ve not had one single, solitary rat since. And that was more than 15 years ago.

🪶 Featherlight Takeaways.

Quick insights from this article: especially helpful if you're wondering whether an automatic chicken feeder is worth the investment.

I've used Grandpa's Feeder for 15 years. It's proved exceptionally durable and reliable.
It keeps feed protected from rats, wild birds and bad weather when it's correctly set up and used.
Chickens learn to operate it by stepping on a treadle. There's a training process, but mine learned to use it successfully.
Bantams can use it too. My smaller chickens were able to operate the feeder.
It's expensive compared with some alternatives. For me, its longevity has made the initial cost worthwhile.
My verdict: I would definitely buy it again.

If you purchase a product through links on this page I receive a small commission at no cost to you. I was not paid for writing this review, and I did not receive it as a freebie. I'm suggesting it for you because I own it and love it, and I think you would, too. For more information please see this policy.

What's an "open" feeder and why is it a problem?

It's any type of feeder which leaves even a small amount of grain exposed. That's all it takes to attract rats, mice and wild birds.

Many popular feeders for small flocks fall into this category: bucket- or pipe-style feeders with openings or trays at the bottom for chickens to peck from, or for chickens to put their head inside.

They might look good, but they're all an open invitation to rodents.

I found out the hard way. This was the open feeder I used before I found Grandpa's.

7 chickens eating from my old open feeder.

My flock eating from the open feeder I used before switching. It fed the chickens – and the rats.

But one morning, I opened the lid and found a rat staring back at me from inside the drum. It was having its own private grain-fest.

That's when I knew it was time for a change.

Why I chose Grandpa's feeder (and why I'd choose it again).

I bought one of the first in the UK, and in those days had to ship it all the way from the makers in New Zealand!

When I started researching rodent-proof feeders I knew I wanted one that kept the feed enclosed and inaccessible to rats, mice and wild birds when my chickens weren't eating.

Grandpa's fitted the bill. It's designed to keep pests out whilst protecting the feed from the weather. And it's certainly the test of time: the original feeder was developed in New Zealand in 1994.

I bought one of the first in the UK, and in those days had to ship it all the way from the makers in New Zealand!

My Grandpa's Feeder when it first arrived, all shiny new, from New Zealand.

Fifteen years later, I can genuinely say it turned out to be one of the best investments I have ever made for my flock.

How Grandpa's feeder works: simple, smart and chicken-proof!

The idea is simple. The chicken stands on the treadle plate at the front. That triggers a lever system which lifts the lid of the grain tray.

Here, Miss Lulu demonstrates how the feeder opens when she steps up.

One of my hens eating from the automatic chicken feeder.

Miss Lulu demonstrates how stepping onto the treadle opens the feed tray.

Once she steps off, the lid closes again, covering the feed.

Inside the hopper, the sloping back helps the feed flow down into the tray as it's eaten.

And to stop the chickens from scratching feed everywhere, as they love to do, Grandpa's added two special features:

an anti-scratch bar, which makes it difficult for the chickens to scratch feed out of the tray
side panels, which help keep the grain contained.

Here, Miss Matilda (one of my Light Sussex hens) puts the design to the test!

Miss Matilda trying – and failing – to scratch grain out of the feeder.

In my flock, that has meant less feed ended up on the ground which both reduces waste and, importantly, leaves less feed available to attract rodents.

Can bantams use this chicken feeder?

My tiny Lemon Millefleur Sablepoot, Bono, uses this same feeder as the larger hens without a problem.

Originally, he waited for one of the big girls to step on the treadle, and jumped on beside them. But eventually, he worked it out for himself.

Here he is, taking his turn at my standard-sized feeder while one of my Light Sussex roosters stands in line behind.

Using Grandpa's automatic feeder works for bantams as well as large chicken breeds. This is Bono, my Lemon Millefleur Sablepoot, and one of my Light Sussex hens standing in line!

Bono, my little Sablepoot, using the standard-sized Grandpa's Feeder while a much larger Light Sussex waits his turn.

So if you keep bantams, don't assume Grandpa's Feeder will necessarily be too much for them. My smallest chicken learned to use mine perfectly well.

What stops rodents from opening the feeder?

The treadle mechanism is designed to open under the weight of a chicken, while lighter visitors such as rats, mice and wild birds aren't heavy enough to operate it.

And because the feed tray is positioned away from the treadle, a rodent can't simply stand on the treadle and reach into the grain.

You might wonder: couldn't a rat or mouse step onto the treadle and help itself?

The treadle mechanism is designed to open under the weight of a chicken, while lighter visitors such as rats, mice and wild birds aren't heavy enough to operate it.

And because the feed tray is positioned away from the treadle, a rodent simply can't physically stand on the treadle and reach into the grain.

In all the years I've used this automatic chicken feeder, I've never seen a single sign of rodent activity: no droppings, no gnaw marks, and definitely no rat staring up at me from inside.

Will it hurt my chickens?

One of the most common questions I'm asked is whether chickens get injured using Grandpa's feeder, in particular whether their heads can become caught in the lid as it shuts.

That was something I worried about, too.

I've used mine for over 15 years years now with flocks up to 40+ chickens, and not one has ever been hurt.

Even the hen who decided to climb inside the grain tray was unharmed!

Grandpa's feeder with one hen inside and one hen on top!

No chickens were harmed in the taking of this photo!

As with any new piece of equipment, though, make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure your chickens are comfortable using it before you leave them to it.

Are cheaper automatic feeders as good?

There are less expensive models which look very similar to Grandpa's. But after 15 years of experience with mine, the build quality was one of the things which impressed me most.

Grandpa's is made from galvanised steel, with no plastic or wooden parts for rodents to gnaw through. Mine has survived 15 years of outdoor use, which is a strong recommendation for durability.

So if you're comparing it to cheaper feeders, don't look only at cost. Check the materials and construction, how securely the lid closes, how well the treadle mechanism works and whether the design prevents chickens from scratching feed onto the ground.

I can't tell you categorically that every cheaper feeder is inferior. What I can say is that, after 15 years of use, I've certainly had my money's worth from Grandpa's!

Any downsides? Here's what to know.

It's not cheap. That's probably its biggest drawback, particularly compared with the many cheaper treadle feedewrs now available. Mine is not as shiny as it once was, but it's still going strong.

You need to choose the right size for your flock. I use the standard feeder very successfully initially, when I planned maybe four or five hens. As my flock grew it became a little chaotic at times, as you can see!

My flock descend on the feeder first thing in the morning.

The morning stampede!

So if you have, or plan to have, more than about 12 chickens, consider whether the larger model would suit you better.

Is Grandpa's Automatic Feeder worth it? My verdict after 15 years.

After all this time, I can confidently say that Grandpa's automatic chicken feeder is one of the very best purchases I've ever made for my flock.

This is not a product I've recommended on the basis of someone else's experience. I have had mine for 15 years.
It was not cheap, particularly since I had to have mine shipped from New Zealand!, but it has proved its value over the years.
It has kept the feed protected from rodents and wild birds, kept it dry in wet weather, and reduced waste.
Its large hopper means I don't have to refill it every day.
It has coped perfectly well with the very different sizes in my flock, from tiny Bono to my much larger breeds.

Would I buy one again? Absolutely. No hesitation.