DIY Chicken Feeder & Waterer

Mitch
Jun 21
3 min read

A simple, budget-friendly project to keep your flock fed and hydrated—with fewer refills and smarter design.

🛠️ Project Summary

Project Name: Trash Can Feeder & Waterer

Difficulty Level: 🟢 Beginner

Time Required: 30–60 minutes

Total Cost: ~$55

As your flock grows, so does the need for efficient, low-maintenance feeding and watering. This DIY Chicken Feeder & Waterer is quick, affordable, and keeps your birds happy for over a month with minimal upkeep.

📋 Materials List

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what we truly use and love*

Item	Source	Cost
(2) 32-gallon plastic trash cans (with lids)	Local hardware store	~$15 each
Poultry feeder ports (set of 6, includes drill bit + caps)	Feeder Ports on Amazon	~$20
Waterer nipples (set of 40, includes drill bit)	Waterer Nipples on Amazon	~$22
Stainless steel nuts (for reinforcing nipples)	Local hardware store	~$2–$3

🔢 Total Project Cost: ~$55(Costs may vary depending on what you already have on hand.)

🧰 Tools Used

Drill
Drill bits (included in both Amazon kits)
Marker or pencil (to mark hole placement)
Utility knife (optional, for smoothing edges)
Wrench (sized to fit stainless steel nuts)

⚠️ Let the drill and bit do the work—pressing too hard may crack the trash can.

🪣 Why This Project?

Store-bought feeders and waterers can be pricey, small, and a pain to clean. We wanted a better solution for our growing flock—and this one gives us more than a month of feed and water for 25 chickens.

It’s scalable, durable, weather-resistant, and works with simple materials. Even better, we’ve had no issues with mice, and the feeder ports come with caps in case you do.

🧑‍🏭 How to Build It

🐓 The Feeder:

Mark 2–4 holes around the trash can, about 4–6 inches from the bottom.
Use the included drill bit to make the holes.
Insert and secure each feeder port.
Fill with up to 100 lbs of feed (2 full 50 lb bags), snap the lid on, and place it in your coop or run.

💧 The Waterer:

Mark the holes around the trash can, about 3–4 inches from the bottom.
Drill pilot holes using the included drill bit.
Insert nipple waterers, securing with stainless steel nuts.(Note: the nuts included with the kit may not tighten well enough—upgrading helps avoid leaks.)
Fill with clean water, test for drips, and place on level ground or a small platform.

💡 The kit includes 40 nipples, so you’ll have extras for backups or additional waterers.

💡 Optional Additions & Tips

Add a rainwater catchment system to refill your waterer automatically.
If green algae is an issue, consider placing a small piece of copper (like a coil or fitting) in the water. This can help reduce algae growth naturally.**(Note: Always research safe amounts—too much copper can be harmful to poultry.)
Use the included feeder caps if rodents or rain become a problem.
These systems keep your flock supplied for 4+ weeks—perfect for busy seasons.

🪛 DIY Chicken Feeder & Waterer Final Thoughts

We’re always looking for practical, affordable ways to care for our animals—and this one delivers. The materials are easy to find, and the design works for just about any flock size.

It’s not just simple—it’s A Simple Grounded Life kind of simple.