Free-range chickens are a joy. They’re feisty, curious, and bring a certain kind of peace to your backyard that no lawn ornament ever could. But anyone who raises chickens knows the chaos feeding time can bring. Spilled feed, wasted grain, and that one hen who thinks the feeder is her personal perch. If you’ve ever thought, “There’s gotta be a better way,” friend—you’re in the right place.
We’re long-time homesteaders here at Riverbend Resources, and we offer poultry supplies that actually work because we use them ourselves. Today, we’re going to talk about why a poultry gravity feeder is one of the smartest things you can get for your free-range flock.
At its core, a gravity feeder is a container that holds feed and lets it drop down into a tray as your chickens eat. Gravity does the hard work. You just refill the container when it gets low. It’s like an automatic buffet—but one that doesn’t lead to overfeeding or waste.
An automated feeding system comes with plenty of benefits, but the biggest advantage is how much feed it saves. By controlling portions and preventing spills, it helps cut down on waste and keeps your flock well-fed with less effort.
When your chickens are free-range, they’re not penned up all day. They roam, peck, scratch, and (occasionally) knock over the feed bucket while they’re at it. Traditional feeders just can’t keep up. Open trays spill too easily, and you end up feeding more squirrels than chickens. That’s money (and patience) down the drain.
Benefits of Using a Gravity Feeder
Here’s what we love most about using a gravity feeder on our homestead:
We tracked feed usage over 30 days using both an open pan feeder and our gravity feeder. Here’s what we found:
| Feeder Type | Feed Used (lbs/day) | Feed Wasted (lbs/day) | Monthly Cost |
| Open Pan Feeder | 7.2 | 2.1 | $75.60 |
| Poultry Gravity Feeder | 6.5 | 0.4 | $52.00 |
(Source: Riverbend Resources 2024 Chicken Feed Trial, Southern Indiana Coop)
That’s over $23/month in savings on just 12 hens. Imagine the savings with a flock of 30!
We take pride in offering gear that’s made right here in the USA. Why? Because when you support American-made products, you’re backing better materials, fair labor practices, and real craftsmanship. Plus, if something goes wrong, you’re not emailing a help desk on another continent.
Our gravity feeders are built with food-safe plastics and reinforced seals to keep out water, mold, and sneaky rodents. They’re designed by folks who know chickens—because they raise them too.
I once built my own feeder out of a 5-gallon bucket and a dream. Let’s just say the chickens ate better than I did that week—because the local raccoons discovered it was an open buffet. One night and three pounds of feed later, I learned a hard lesson. Now we use a sealed gravity feeder, and the raccoons have to go elsewhere for dinner.
We’re proud to share that Riverbend Resources was featured on Shark Tank, a recognition that highlights our commitment to smart, practical solutions for backyard poultry keepers. Being part of this innovative community means our poultry feeder stood out for its durability, simplicity, and real-world effectiveness. Designed by homesteaders, for homesteaders, our feeder impressed with its ability to reduce waste and keep feed clean—without the bells and whistles that complicate things. It’s not just a spotlight moment for us—it’s a win for every chicken keeper who wants reliable, Made in USA products that truly work in the field.
If you’re tired of waste, daily refills, and feed turning into a soggy mess every time it rains, a poultry gravity feeder is your best friend. Your chickens stay fed. You save money. Your mornings get a little quieter.
Here at Riverbend Resources, we’re not just selling a product—we’re sharing a solution we believe in, because it works. Every feeder we sell is tested on our own flock, in our own barn, by our own muddy boots.
Got questions? Want to talk chicken? Give us a shout. We love hearing from other folks who know the joy (and chaos) of life with a backyard flock.
At Riverbend Resources, we’re dedicated to simplifying poultry care. With durable, cost-effective feeders and waterers, our mission is to support backyard chicken enthusiasts and small-scale farmers. Join our growing community committed to quality and sustainability.
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