Feed-O-Matic Chicken Feeder Review

[@filstewart2380]

I was given one. I agree with ALL your reservations but for all that happily include it because with pretty minimal attention (once a week clearing the over-spill,) it works well, providing easily obtained food for broodies, young stock, or the whole flock in bad weather when they don't want to free-range. They are not cheap, so I'm delighted mine was a gift, but certainly here in Ireland I find it very handy.

[@markredshaw84]

I've had one of these for 6 months and i was really pleased with it as the rats disappeared almost overnight. It didn't spill and I thought it was great. Now though, it's started overflowing despite being thoroughly cleaned. I guess the chickens learned how to make it feed too much as Mark says. Going to try raising off the ground as suggested by others.

[@ladybucket9798]

a little tray to catch up all the spilled feed would really improve it. so you just pull out the drawer, empty and clean it and then put it back in. its not perfect but would at least be less annoying to clean it up. great video as always. keep up the good work! looking forward to your next videos. ♥

[@Selfsufficientme]

That's a great modification idea! Thank you :)

[@chrissheila]

I raised mine off the ground and out an old baking tray under it to collect the spills. Only problem is that the spills get mixed with all the rubbish on the ground that the birds kick up so you end up having to sift through the spill before you can pour it back in.

[@swissmaid]

@@chrissheila or keep the tray as is, no sifting needed, keep it overnight, inside the house, then give it to them in the morning on the ground. I bet it will be gone in 5 min.

[@Gayle.M]

Now that you already have the feeder, can you put a light piece of wood over the tredle foot to prevent feed build up?

[@susansmeeton4321]

Had one of these - wouldn't let the seed feed through - kept blocking all the time and poor hens were starving - threw it away

[@Psychos33]

watched your video en bought this feeder. Now I have a big rat problem :( The chickens spill a lot of food on the ground, so at night the rats party :((

[@raphaelschostok9467]

i'd be scared they get stuck inside

[@balmera2823]

I was watching his gardening videos and I now watching a video about an automatic chicken feeder video. I DONT WVEN HAVE CHICKENS!!!

[@quintonthurmond114]

I don't have a garden or chickens, yet I still absolutely love these videos

[@raphaelschostok9467]

same. just love him talk and his honesty

[@MisterMitchMM]

Dare to dream. I don't have chickens either ;)

[@orouba14]

@@raphaelschostok9467 a true blue salt of the earth aussie. love his videos. I'm about to start my chickening journey and binge watching his vids on the matter.

[@kerrileelawrence2402]

Gardening and Self Sufficiency is Soul Soothing n VIP in Times When You Know What's Planned by The Banksters.. Albert Pike's Third World War and Endgame Economic Crash is Coming So Who Will Survive.. Let's Work Towards Vege Gardening and Self Sufficiency For All..

[@elenidemos]

Could be risen on bricks or concrete blocks on sides to allow chickens to get under when spilled. Lay a ramp at front & allow space at rear so chooks can get in.

[@TheWareek]

was thinking something similar myself, even if not high enough for chooks to get under maybe a rake or broom to clean it out.

[@anthony8484]

better to have it high enough they can go under and keep it clean. less work is better

[@hogheadv2]

Chickens are happy get into every crevice... Put it up on 6-8" 150-200mm lift frame. Bird will hop up to feed tray when they wish...

[@chrissheila]

I mounted mine on bricks and out bricks underneath it with a tray to collect the spills.

[@m.a.oostingh2120]

@@chrissheila do you have a picture of this and does it work?

[@homesteading]

My experience is that the hens are much more likely to spill food from a feeder if the feed is mixed in some way - mixed grains or grain plus pellets. They throw out the stuff they don't like to get at their favourite food! I found the spillage problem stopped when I went to feeding a single food in a feeder i.e wheat only or pellets only. This means that if you want give them food choices you need multiple feeders!

[@redstarling5171]

Yep that's why I switched to pellets from mixed seed, they just pick out their favourites otherwise

[@whome146]

You should place the feeder on a platform that allowed the spilt feed to fall free to the ground. Make it high enough that the chickens could eat the feed under the feeder. Then the chickens would clean up the spilt feed. It would would eliminate the need for you to clean up after them.

[@troy1672]

Mark, I got some simular made by a company in the U.S. All metal. I love the ones I got. One thing I do is mix a little food grade diatomaceous earth in with the feed. It keeps bugs out of it. Before I did that, small little bugs would take up residence in the feed. Not sure if mine spills feed or not. My hens are pretty good at keeping the food cleaned up.

[@SandraDelesalle]

Thanks for the review, just have to say your review is constructive not “negative”. Hopefully the people designing them find this information useful

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Guys! Johnno's Website is brookfieldpoultryequipment.com/ obviously he is based in Australiaaaaa. No worms were harmed during the making of this video ;)

[@mrmathewsp]

Hey Mark! I love your videos. I just moved to Central Florida where the climate seems to be a lot like where you live. I used to live in North Florida where we had a lot better soil. I did a little garden every year up there (just tomatoes) for fun with the kids and was thinking I would not be able to garden in my new yard because it is nothing but sand. I found your channel and was inspired to start my 1st raised garden. I've got 3 boxes with tomatoes, squash, sweet peppers and jalepenios. It has made all the difference in our new tiny back yard and the whole family enjoys sitting on the back porch now. So thanks for the inspiration. I was wondering in the future if you could do some videos on how to preserve your extra veggies and maybe some cooking videos to show folks what to do with some of the veggies we might not be as familiar with?

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Paul and thank you for the feedback I love nothing more than hearing about people who have started food gardening for the first time and if I played a part in making this happen it makes me even happier. I have made some videos on preserving food and cooking and to do more is a common request from my dedicated supporters but in general these videos don't tend to do very well when it comes to viewership so I'm considering other ways to either make these videos more appealing or better formatted or perhaps create a new channel which concentrates on how we use our produce. Anyway, I appreciate your feedback and we'll work out a plan soon meanwhile all the best with your raised beds! Cheers :)

[@denzbarz]

@@SelfsufficientmeHey Mark, which country do you live at. Here in Germany its hard for gardening all year, cause the waether is much too cold in winter to grow plants all year.

[@mrmathewsp]

@@Selfsufficientme Hey Mark, Good morning from the USA. Thank you so much for responding to my comment. Just an idead off the top of my head (and you may already do something like this), but how about your write a book or a manual. Instead of selling the book as a whole book you could sell the pages seperately. This would allow people to pick and choose the pages they need based on what they grow in their garden or what they want to grow in the future. For each vegetable you spotlight in your videos you could link to the corresponding book page with tips for growing, how to store, and maybe a favorite recipe or 2. Viewers could purchase for a buck (thats a dollar here, not sure about Austrailian money lingo) and download to print or just keep on their computer. Anyways, I hope you have a great growing season and I continue to love your videos. Paul M. :)

[@prosp9483]

100% thought you were gonna eat that worm at the end, the music build up was convincing

[@Latouche-Sublime]

I love your review, I'm looking on buying a smaller one for when we are on holiday so that my neighbours only need to check if the chicken are ok. So your negative points are not really an issue for me. The fact that you stated the negative points helped me a lot and made sure for me that your review is honest. Thank you very much!

[@ChadStocks]

My wife bought one of these a few years ago and loves it. It keeps the wild birds out and this makes it so she doesn't have to run through feed so often. The only thing she found annoying was the rod that runs along the back lost it's bolt to hold it in but the feeder still works. She uses pellets so she doesn't have a spill problem.

[@honestyfaithful]

You just have SPOILED CHICKENS 🐓 thanks for the video😊🌻😊

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

Smart ones too, needs to get some drop outs that can't work the feeder to their advantage!

[@Gray-n5x]

I brought a 5kg one to give a try and was cheapest I could find at $130nzd Will see how it goes as keen to stop feeding all the wekas,pokekoes and sparrows etc😂hopefully it does ok and love you’re straight up honest reviews mate ,thanks from a Kiwi supporter (u Aussies aren’t bad 😅)

[@davidwebb2669]

I bought one of these feedomatics at my local hardware. It was great to start chickens used it happily and no issues until the rodents chewed through the plastic seed tray which rendered it useless in around 6 months. I have fabricated a steel feed tray to suit. Hopefully this will work better. The feed spill is a major issue as you have described.

[@abuelitopastelero355]

Hi Buddy, your comments about the spillage problem are spot on. I have the 5kg model for my 2 medium-sized hens who spill more feed than they actually eat, even on the lowest setting. I have to collect and re-cycle the spillage ever day, otherwise the financial cost of keeping them would be unacceptable. A big disappointment and a purchase I would not recommend;

[@WildwoodTV]

I wished I'd seen your great review before buying one! However I was going away for a week & wanted to make sure the chooks had access to food in case my kids forgot! My chooks soon figured it out (Silkies first!!) so I'm happy with it - but as others have said, chooks will peck mixed feed out to get to the tasty bits, and make a right mess.

[@rosemariealholm-dick7640]

💪 “blow out a bicep” 😂😂♥️ You’re my new fave! So glad I’ve found you mate! 😘

[@Dasha-pr4ct]

Bought one of these and rats ate through the plastic in less than 3 weeks!! So annoyed! Cheap and nasty! Now chasing company for a refund

[@johannespaul5933]

Wow have you been bitten by a shark on your arm if I may ask? Greetings from Germany! Its very interessting to see homegardening on the opposite side of the world:D I wish I had bananatree:D

[@saywhat1078]

Mark talks about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnS1e3yujcqlqMU

[@ltlbnsgarden]

I really like the very honest review my friend! Overall it sounds like and investment worth thinking over 😊

[@captainanthony1399]

Thank You! Good information and perspectives. Appreciate you sharing. 👍👏🌾🐣🐔🐓🐭

[@jeep4ron]

Love the truth. Maybe lift the feeding tray high enough that when they go to scratch it to high. Make them stretch there necks just a little to feed? Just a thought while I was watching. I don’t have anything like that yet. Love your videos. Have a fantastic day Mark..!!

[@nerd4rocks]

Seems like they should change out the trailer plate to a perch bar. Or you can hang it on the wall so they can get to it from a perch bar. Thanks for the honest review mark. Your videos are always informative and balanced. That's why I'm subscribed 😄

[@pokrdotbkini]

I thought you were going to break out into a song in the beginning This Feeders automatic it's systomatic ,it's hydromatic Why it's greased Lightnin.....🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Wish you had now huh!! 😎

[@stonegiant4]

Hmm. It would probably work for me since the local fearl cat colony keeps the rodents decimated. The clogging up plate would be double annoying for my ducks as they tend to make everything mucky.

[@McDowallManor]

Good honest review mate. I'm not sure the clean up is such an issue given that I do twice daily checks on my girls.

[@erwinfilius818]

I've had this feeder for about a year and it is a game changer. No spillage issues with pellets until you get to the powdery stuff at the bottom. Looks like it doesn't work as well with crumble. I like the feeder a lot and would highly recommend to those feeding out pellets.

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

maybe the feeder should have an overflow tray to catch spillage, mark.....................brian

[@JyjusHomeVideos]

Great Review Mate !! True regarding the spillage. After some time that footplate will stop moving due to the spilled food. I didn't like this design and finally decided to make one grandfather's design myself, and my chooks love it.

[@jimmat2640]

Is that feeder shown in your Automatic chicken Coop Video Jyju ?

[@cindy25sawyer1]

put a piece of vinyl tile. like the kitchen floor tiles. over the step plate

[@drunkinpiper]

As stated below. I put my feedomatic on a raised wire grid (concrete blocks raise it sufficiently high) which is high enough to allow food to fall through which is in turn eaten by the chickens. This stops rodents having a free meal.

[@dpowell7299]

I'm surprised that they make the bottom a grate. It seems like if that was flat it would not allow the seed to fill up underneath.

[@ldybgd]

I plan to try this feeder. I have the grandpa's feeder and my girls hate it. I have to leave it open, which, of course, defeats the purpose. I'm hoping the quieter design will work better for us.Thanks for the review Mark!

[@ewellacres]

One of the great side benefits I can see of this feeder is that it helps to keep the feed dry so that it will also last longer.

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

I wonder if a bow or bin, made to fit the same footprint and attached firmly to the base with a steel mesh between so the grains could be caught from below but also keeping the rats out. Btw, I think you're absolutely right about the rats chewing the plastic. Some are convinced they especially enjoy plastic, having adapted to it when chewing through pipes, etc.

[@fionaatbromleycottagenz393]

We also have a gravity feeder which did the same thing until my husband made some modifications. Admittedly we use pellets in ours but the spillage/wastage used to be horrendous. So what did he do to all but stop this from happening? He installed a second gate in the feeder chute to reduce the flow of pallets into the feed tray and he reduced the size of the feed tray so that the chooks were not able to flick the feed. That’s worked a treat for us. Might be worth having a play.

[@freeman6147]

Would be great to see photos of those adaptations.

[@texascajun4023]

Thanks for you insight. Could you do a video on the best chickens for a newbie? I’d love to have a small group for my hubby and me, but not sure where and how to start this adventure.

[@johannespaul5933]

Check out Robert Höck on yt there should be an english playlist.

[@jamesgraham6947]

Really spot on review. I have same treadle and the food spill really annoys me. Defeats the purpose of stopping pests and actually attracts them. I have just checked mine and there must be around 30 slugs eating the spilled food under treadle. I would defo not recommend this treadle until better design allows chickens to eat spilled food as well.

[@TwoHandsAtAllTimes]

Thank you for the honest and thorough review. It's hard to find those (especially the former) nowadays on youtube.

[@donbrade6848]

Thanks for the candid review, I like the points you make about the treadle getting plugged with the wasted feed. That alone makes this an unacceptable option for me.

[@kennbannister5085]

Thank you for an honest review.

[@balmera2823]

Any Aussie here

[@jolyndaj]

Thank you !! Great review.

[@justinevens8730]

The FeedOMatic is expensive rubbish. After 3 months rats have chewed through the plastic base of the hopper. Fundamental design flaw.

[@alan30189]

You just need to create a new breed of chicken: 🐓 “Rat and mouse eating chickens.” 🐁 🐓 . Problem solved. 😂😄😉 A possible solution to both chewing by rats and feed spill, would be to take a 1-1/2 to 2 inch piece of sheet steel and epoxy it across the front of the feeder, creating a lip above that plastic piece to prevent feed spillage. Rats cannot chew through steel.

[@gerwantofrivera3725]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oInNgpuVl9anf68

[@dasplaudagei6060]

My chickens eat chicks all the time

[@Hayesdec]

Hi Very interesting feeder. I did make my own feeder. I was having the same problems with the chickens throwing the food out and waisting. I solved it by putting a piece of roofing rubber ( the sort that roofers use instead of felt) the chickens have to put the head in the feeder and the roofing rubber gives a bit doesn’t completely solve the problem but helps. Just stick it on with ct1. A product available in the uk. It’s like a mastic glue. Anyway hope this helps Richard UK

[@sampaquitee423]

Thanks for the honest review Mark. I'm in the market for a new feeder and am looking at this one. The exact video I was looking for. Are you still using it? Have you found a better set up since this video? Cheers!

[@thilgu]

What happened to his arm? The scar is from being in the military?

[@calebmaxwell852]

Now I had wondered if you had any Army experience given your use of the ET but after spotting the figure 12 in the background of this video, I'd say it must be confirmed. The target and the ET gives me an Infantry impression but my second choice would be Artillery at a guess.. am I close? Maybe you say in one of your videos and I just haven't ran into it yet haha

[@lucasgrowsbestyt]

Go on Mark!

[@ianrobinson8974]

Mark, please don NOT use other country's slang when we have our own! You can always say "from the start" not the "get go". We need to maintain our language as we are not a colony of any other country; particularly the good ole US of A nor China! Thanks for the overview; would you believe, I put my new one out with my chooks, yesterday! There are also now 4 adjustments for the feed to go to the bin; not two.

[@leonardpearce6893]

Hi, thanks for your review, we have 20 chickies, all rescues, ,neither this one nor any others I have seen would be suitable as not large enough, all of them eat together, and are food crazy, even though we treat them like princesses and they get the best of feed, their early lives have made them anxious to get food and it would be ww3 with all trying to eat, thanks for your vid, I have decided not to bother with this type of feeder. I have installed an auto door, which is awesome and I can recommend that, keep the vids coming, I appreciate them.

[@GaryStark]

It's been five years since you installed this feeder...can you give an update? Still using it?

[@bipinrai4819]

Can some help me with grey squirrel getting attracted and destroy my fruit cage and chicken feed

[@peytonlackie8949]

I would not give this to meat birds. Lol

[@LaurensRadiatoren]

I liked this review very much. I bought the feedomatic a week ago but our chickens not using it. I did put a stone on it to keep it open but they have eaten allmost nothing. And now they avoid being near this machine...I do not know how to change this, they must be hungry..

[@shondra6]

I’m just looking for something small, for Louise 😂 TFS.

[@anthonyreddy2834]

Great video Mate, just what i was looking for.

[@swissmaid]

How exactly does it reduce the rat and mouse problem? It does NOT! Not with all that spillage!

[@nickbullock9779]

An easy fix would be to have a channel under the treddle plate that the birds can get at from both sides. They would clean it up if they could get at it. Your not showing much initiative. The plastic issue is also unfounded. Looks like a good system and I will be purchasing one. Or raise the unit off the ground and support the treddle plate at its furthest extremity with a stop. Multitude of fixes that are not the designers fault.

[@vikingninja5033]

I wonder how its going now with your chicken and their Feed-0-Matic and if the rats did start biting on the plastic Edit: Oh never mind you aren't really happy with it in the end haha

[@karlislibietis30]

this gfeeder is not good! i had a smaller moder for about a year and couldnt understand why i suddenly was going through twice the amount of feed. turns out rats had eaten through the platic that holds feed back

[@N8rGrant]

0:52 Yah right LOL you seem pretty accustom to that sorta thing 😂

[@ricardodelzealandia6290]

I built a feeder that has no spill, but I haven't added a treader on it, so I do get rats eating out of it. It also takes 20kg sacks. I can send you a pic of it if you like.

[@briansandle1915]

What is the purpose of the yellow strip which clips in at the front of the trough? It bends and stops it working.

[@jsmartin1300]

Great review! Did you also do a review of the grandpa feeder? Other than the noise any other coments on it?

[@phinex60]

How would a thin peace of tin ontop of the plate do? To stop it from going between the grates? Also could the tin be expanded to under the where the food is, so it won't gather under there either?

[@patrickroos4346]

Wrong. Set the feeder 35 cm up and the fallen food can be eaten. Chickens like to eat and search on the ground.

[@abigaillorenzen6656]

I have 2 bantams and 11 standard. Do you think the bantams will be able to access?

[@SoftwareTester-n5x]

Can you recommend one that is both spill proof and rat proof? :)

[@bfrommars]

Interesting information, thank you.

[@ChrisBee-nn7zu]

I bought one of these after watching your video and loved it until recently when a rat ate a hole through it not happy

[@tengla]

I've had one of these for about a month. Great product.

[@brucegonsalves1793]

I bought a Australian made feeder that has all the same advantages and no feed spills out at all ok maybe a crumb or two which the hens can get as it has a all steel design

[@timsnow2204]

The rats love this feeder. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iV7MhGtonZ5nZ9k

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

i finally got myself 4 chickens. ( warrens ). they are quite a size, lay very large brown eggs, and the birds themselves are very docile. it feels like an elephant has trod on your foot when they wander. i need your advice, mark. is it necessary to clip their wings. and if so, how?.......................brian

[@terryedge1061]

What about the lower pecking order hens are they able to get food when they want it or bullied away ?

[@f3wbs]

Looks great! Quite efficient.

[@raw6460]

Good comments which can be used in the company remodel.

[@julieb8090]

A rat has just chewed through the bottom of one side ,i am not happy 😢

[@GippslandCNC]

I think my little chihiuahuas will figure out how to get into the chickens food with this.

[@joselito79766]

Raise it from the ground in order the chicken being able to eat under the feeder.

[@nicholasnapier2684]

I think your grandpa one was probably the better one

[@philip4588]

How is this for ducks? (have moscovys)

[@JesusGaveHisLife4U2]

Well you sold me on this feeder.

[@cheryldahl9192]

If the green parts are plastic, the feeder is useless. The rats will chew thru that.

[@Sauriyaa]

What about Rats ? I think they could Get that food.

[@SirMrBerk]

uh oh BOOFHEAD alert

[@Frombie_01]

@@TheAfroNoah Read the captions and you'll understand.

[@goeja]

I have the same problem with clogged feeder

[@ayelethashachar1209]

Won't the plastic part be less durable?

[@1twilight9]

Well done mate, been watching your vids for years. 2 mill subs now, Wow. EFFORT = SUCCESS. Fantastic! 👍

[@mrmerhtin3625]

Anyone else waiting for him to eat the worm? Lol

[@BacktonaturelivingCom]

You have a great channel! Has anyone told you that you look just like Richard Crowe? Personally, I have a feeder that puts out just enough food on a timer. I don't like to feed them too much because I like it when they free-range, and run to get worms or even mice.... Since we feed our fowl birds expensive organic chicken crumble. I only like to supplement their free ranging... Fowl are known to produce more eggs when they are underfed vs overfed... just a thought... :)