You've probably already tried a few feeders. The hanging ones that swing and spill. The treadle feeders that rats figure out. The imports that crack in the sun. Or maybe you've just accepted the mess — scattered feed, wet clumps, sparrows on repeat.
We've spent 15 years solving this problem. Not by guessing. By watching.
We filmed what actually happens when chickens eat
Early on, we mounted GoPro cameras inside chicken coops and recorded hours of footage. What we saw changed everything we thought we knew about feeder design.
Chickens don't eat neatly. They rake — sweeping their beaks side to side. They flick — pulling feed forward and tossing it. They select — picking out favourite bits and scattering the rest.
Any feed near an edge ends up on the ground. Every time.
So we designed the shape of this feeder to make it much harder to waste feed. Not by restricting access — but by controlling where the feed sits and how chickens interact with it.
How it actually stops the waste
OBSERVATION
Chickens rake side-to-side
A divider stops the sideways sweep — they just eat straight in instead.
OBSERVATION
Chickens pull feed forward
Small paddles stop them scooping feed out of the opening.
OBSERVATION
Edge-exposed feed gets flicked out
The feed sits lower, away from the edge — harder to flick out.
No moving parts. Nothing to jam, seize, or break. Just smart design.
See it working
Watch how calmly chickens feed — and notice how the feed sits lower than you'd expect. That's intentional.
This feeder exists because we couldn't afford to fail
Fifteen years ago, my wife Kara was working as a theatre nurse. I was in retail hardware. We were starting a family and trying to build something on the side.
Our "factory" was our garage. Our "warehouse" was a cupboard in the carport. Every weekend for about four years, I'd cut six-metre PVC pipes on the front lawn with a drop saw, then hand-scrub every single one with a green scouring pad and soapy water.
My dad would make the "heads" — 200 at a time — gluing the base assemblies together. We couldn't afford 3D printing, so every prototype was an expensive gamble. One funnel came back 15mm too short. We had to remake it from scratch.
We couldn't even afford boxes at first. I'd go to Amcor — the local cardboard manufacturer — and take waste rolls from their corrugator machine. We hand-wrapped every feeder in cardboard offcuts.
That's all we could afford. So we made it work.
The bandsaw era. Every component cut by hand.
Our garage was our factory. Our home was our warehouse.
Dad made the "heads" in batches of 200.
From hand-glued PVC to injection molded. Same principles.
Today, the feeders are injection molded in Brisbane and assembled in our warehouse in Townsville. No imported components. We've served over 50,000 customers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.
But the design principles haven't changed. We still build feeders that work with how chickens actually eat — because that's what actually works.
Let's be honest about what this feeder won't do
Most feeder marketing is full of overclaims. We'd rather tell you the truth upfront.
It's rodent-resistant, not rodent-proof
Determined rodents can chew through plastic. What this feeder does is remove the main attraction: scattered feed on the ground. No spillage = no easy reason for rodents to hang around. In high-pressure areas, use the closure cap overnight.
Established sparrows won't vanish overnight
If pest birds were already visiting your coop, they know where food is. The feeder removes the easy reward (spilt feed), but you may need a 7–14 day reset: feed morning and evening only, nothing during the day. They move on when the reward disappears.
It works best with the right feed
Quality crumble or pellets flow beautifully. Grain mixes with molasses can clump in humid weather and cause flow issues. We don't recommend scratch mix as a primary feed — save it for treats.
Sideways rain can still get in
The rain hood handles heavy vertical rain — we've tested it in Queensland storms. But wind-driven horizontal rain can get into anything outdoors. Mount under cover where possible.
We tell you this because we want it to work for you — not because we're trying to cover ourselves.
What it will do
Dramatically reduce feed scattered on the ground
Keep feed drier in normal weather
Remove the easy opportunity that attracts pests
Last for years without parts failing
For most people, that's what actually solves the problem.
"Wait — why does the feed look so low?"
This is the most common question we get from new owners. And it's a fair one — most feeders let feed sit high, right at the edge of the opening.
That's exactly where feed gets flicked out.
Our feeder keeps feed lower — away from the edge. It looks "empty" but it's actually working.
The finger test: Push your finger into the opening and move the feed around. If you can reach it, your chickens can reach it easily. Their beaks are perfectly shaped for it.
NEW TO BACKYARD CHICKENS?
Here's what you need to know
Your chickens will figure it out. Most learn within hours. Some cautious birds take a day or two. If you're worried, fill the outlet area initially so they can see the feed.
Mount it so the opening is roughly level with the back of your chicken's neck when she's standing. Watch them eat. Adjust if needed. It's easier than it sounds.
Start with a quality complete feed (crumble or pellets) and you'll have the best experience from day one.
TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE?
Here's why this is different
No treadle mechanisms to jam or break. No moving parts for rats to learn. No flimsy imported plastic that cracks in UV.
The anti-waste system is based on actual observation of chicken behaviour — not marketing assumptions. The design does the work.
Australian made. 3-year warranty. Real humans answer the phone — and we know the product because we built it.
Quick setup guide
Two minutes to install. Years of use.
In real coops, with real chickens
Customer photos from backyards across Australia and beyond.
"Finally, a feeder that actually works. No more wasted feed all over the coop floor."
— Verified buyer
"No problems, everything was easy. Chickens took to them like ducks to water."
— Verified buyer
We're Ryan and Kara
We started Dine-A-Chook in our garage 15 years ago. Today we run the business from Townsville with a small team — but if you call support, you might still get one of us.
We know the product because we built it. And we genuinely want it to work for you.
Specifications
Capacity
~3.7 kg (varies by feed type)
Typical refill
5–7 days for 6–8 chickens
Material
UV-resistant ASA plastic
Warranty
3 years
Includes
Feeder (assembled), 2 mounting brackets, 4 screws, installation guide
Made in
Australia (Brisbane + Townsville)
Optional add-ons
Closure cap (overnight exclusion)
Wire mesh mounting kit
Common questions
Will my chickens figure it out?
Yes. Most learn in hours. Fill the outlet initially if you want to speed it up.
Does it work for ducks?
Yes — ducks, geese, guinea fowl, and turkeys. Adjust mounting height for the bird.
How often do I need to clean it?
Rarely. With quality feed and correct mounting, most people never need to. Check occasionally.
What if I have sparrows already?
Do a reset: feed morning and evening only for 7–14 days. They move on when the reward disappears.
What if it doesn't work for me?
Call us. We'll help troubleshoot. Most issues are feed or setup related and easily fixed.
Buy once. Set it up. Stop thinking about it.
Chicken keeping should be enjoyable — not another thing you have to constantly manage.
3-year warranty. Australian made. Real human support.
Questions? 1800 103 326 — real humans, real answers.
Phone:
0432143005
Email:
murray@finlaysondigital.com
Location:
16 Camuglia street,
Garbutt
Queensland
4814
