Keep chicken feed cleaner, reduce wasted grain and help discourage rats, mice and wild birds with the Bainbridge Standard Treadle Chicken Feeder. Available in 4kg, 8kg, 12kg and 20kg capacities, this automatic poultry feeder is designed for Australian backyard chicken keepers, hobby farms and larger flocks.
The treadle-operated feeding door opens when a chicken steps onto the platform, allowing access to the feed. When the bird steps away, the feeding area closes again, helping make stored poultry feed less accessible to rodents and wild birds.
Choose from four feeder capacities depending on your flock size and how frequently you want to refill your chicken feeder.
The compact 4kg chicken treadle feeder is a good choice for smaller backyard flocks or chicken keepers who prefer to refill their feeder more frequently.
The 8kg treadle feeder provides additional feed capacity while remaining practical for typical backyard chicken flocks.
The 12kg chicken feeder is suited to established backyard flocks where greater feed capacity and fewer refills are desirable.
The 20kg treadle feeder is the largest model in the Standard range and is suited to larger poultry flocks or owners wanting maximum feed storage between refills.
Feed capacity is nominal and the actual quantity held may vary depending on the type and density of poultry feed used.
Open chicken feeders and feed bowls can provide an easy food source for rats, mice and wild birds. A treadle feeder helps reduce this problem because access to the feed is normally closed when your chickens are not eating.
The Bainbridge Standard Treadle Feeder combines an automatic treadle-operated door with predominantly metal construction, helping make stored chicken feed less accessible to unwanted visitors.
A treadle feeder works best as part of a broader approach to poultry hygiene. Regularly remove spilled feed and keep the surrounding coop clean. See our guide on how to clean a chicken coop for practical backyard flock management advice.
Chicken feed can become expensive when birds scratch, flick or scatter grain from an open feeder. The Bainbridge Standard model incorporates an anti-waste grill designed to reduce feed being thrown from the feeding area.
Reducing spilled feed also means there is less loose food around the coop to attract rodents and wild birds.
If you are comparing feeding systems for your flock, read our guide to the best chicken feeders for backyard flocks.
The sloping roof helps direct water away from the feeder, while the rounded anti-drip rim provides additional protection around the feeding area.
For best results, we still recommend positioning poultry feeders in a sheltered area wherever possible, particularly during heavy rain or severe weather.
During hotter months, feeding equipment should also be paired with reliable access to fresh drinking water. See our guide to the best chicken drinkers for backyard chickens in Australia and our advice on preparing backyard chickens for summer heat.
The feeder provides 12 weight adjustment options, allowing the activation point of the treadle mechanism to be adjusted for different birds.
The treadle plate has been designed to provide a stable surface while chickens are feeding. Some birds may need a short training period when first introduced to a treadle feeder, so allow the flock time to become familiar with standing on the platform and accessing their feed.
The best feeder size depends on the number of chickens you keep, their daily feed consumption and how frequently you want to refill the feeder.
For new chicken keepers, our essential first aid kit for backyard chickens is also a useful guide to keeping important poultry-care products on hand.
Reducing access to chicken feed is one part of keeping a cleaner poultry environment. Regular coop cleaning and monitoring birds for external parasites such as mites and lice are also important parts of backyard chicken care.
Read our guide on how to control mites and lice in chickens naturally for practical information on managing external parasite pressure around your flock.
For chicken keepers looking to build a broader coop-management routine, Ozz Organics Diatomaceous Earth 1kg is a practical option for smaller backyard setups.
For larger flocks, sheds or hobby farms, consider Ozz Organics Diatomaceous Earth 3kg.
Always use poultry and animal-care products according to their directions and product label.
Inca Pestene Insect Powder 500g is another useful poultry-care product for managing external parasites when used according to label directions.
Combining good feeding practices, regular coop cleaning and appropriate parasite management can help create a cleaner, better-managed poultry environment.
Good poultry management involves more than simply supplying feed. Clean water, appropriate vitamins and minerals, parasite control and coop hygiene all contribute to maintaining a healthy backyard flock.
For periods of heat, transport, stress or increased demand, Vetsense Avi-LYTE Poultry Electrolytes 125mL can help support hydration and electrolyte intake.
For general nutritional support, consider Vetsense Avi-VITAL Bird & Poultry Vitamins 125mL, or read our guide on whether chickens need vitamin supplements.
Laying hens also have particularly high calcium requirements. Learn more in our guide to the best calcium supplements for laying hens.
Regular cleaning helps reduce old feed, droppings and organic matter around the poultry area. This can improve general hygiene and make the environment less attractive to pests.
Poultry Coop Cleaner 500mL can be incorporated into your regular coop-cleaning routine.
A treadle chicken feeder is an automatic poultry feeder that opens when a chicken stands on a weighted platform. The feeding compartment closes after the chicken steps away, helping restrict access by rodents, wild birds and other pests.
A treadle feeder can significantly reduce access to chicken feed because the feeding compartment is normally closed when birds are not eating. It should still be used alongside good coop hygiene, secure bulk feed storage and removal of spilled feed.
Yes. The feeder includes an anti-waste grill designed to help prevent chickens flicking and scratching feed from the feeding area.
The Bainbridge Standard Treadle Feeder is available in 4kg, 8kg, 12kg and 20kg capacities.
Yes. The Standard feeder provides 12 weight adjustment options so the activation mechanism can be configured for different birds.
The feeder incorporates weather-resistant design features including a sloping roof and rounded anti-drip rim. We still recommend positioning the feeder in a sheltered location, particularly during heavy or wind-driven rain.
Some chickens learn to use a treadle feeder very quickly while others need a short training period. Give birds time to become comfortable with the movement of the treadle and feeding door before expecting consistent use.
Choose according to flock size, feed consumption and preferred refill frequency. The 4kg and 8kg feeders suit smaller backyard flocks, while the 12kg and 20kg versions provide greater capacity for medium and larger flocks.
Yes. Because the feeding compartment is closed when not being used, a treadle feeder can help protect feed from wild birds, rodents, debris and some environmental contamination compared with permanently open feeding systems.
Alongside a suitable feeder, chicken keepers should maintain clean drinking water, regularly remove old feed and bedding, monitor for mites and lice, and maintain appropriate nutrition and parasite-control routines.
Bainbridge produces practical animal feeding and farm equipment designed for Australian conditions. The Standard Treadle Chicken Feeder combines rodent resistance, reduced feed waste, adjustable operation and four useful capacities in one feeding system.
Select your 4kg, 8kg, 12kg or 20kg Bainbridge Standard Treadle Feeder above and build a cleaner, more efficient feeding setup for your backyard chickens.
