The only thing you need to do after finishing the feeder is train your chickens. You can either put some food on top of the feeder to show them they need to step onto the feeder for it to open or you can just leave the lid open. Either way, they should learn its purpose after a few days. Then, you're free to spend the time doing other work. You don't need to make sure you're feeding them at the right time and your chickens won't have to wait on you to get them food. It's mutually beneficial!

Step 1: Stuff You Will Need

• .6 galvanized sheet or 1.6 aluminum
• 2 hinges
• pop rivets and a rivet gun
• tin snips
• big square
• 6 bolts and locking nuts
• 6mm & 3mm drill
• 3mm X 12mm flat aluminum
• ruler
• sheet metal folder or brake
• sheet metal guillotine is useful
• spot welder can also be used

Step 2: Base

Cut a piece of sheet metal 530mm X 390mm and make sure it is square. Follow the measurements on the drawings.

Step 3: The Sides

Cut 2 pieces of sheet metal 220 X 220mm. There is a safety edge on top and the two part are a mirror image of each other, so the holes need to go on opposite sides.

You can either spot weld or pop rivet the sides to the base.

Step 4: The Links

It is a good idea to tape them together so you mark and drill both sides at once.

You will need to 12mm x 3mm flat aluminum, 2 X 290mm and 2 x at 150mm

Step 5: Making the Lid

It can be easier to attach the hinge on with one rivet then drill the other holes. You will need a couple of small hinges, pop rivets, and a rivet gun to fit the lid.

Start with a sheet 249 X 624 mm and mark out the safety edges at 12 mm.

It is much easier to drill the holes before you fold sheet.

Step 6: The Pedal

Watch out for the final bend on the ends it needs to have gap for the links to fit into and it would be very easy to bend it on the wrong line.

To view the full steps with all of the pictures, click here!

Have you made this automatic chicken feeder? Let us know if it worked with your chickens!

Article and Photo Source: Instructables