Poultry Chain Feeder Systems: What They Are & How They Work

Poultry chain feeders have a very clear value proposition.

Feeding a flock manually using feeding pans is costly and inaccurate.

And the more investment risk you carry in running a poultry enterprise, the less tolerant you become to inefficiencies.

Feed promises both the #1 production potential and the #1 cost potential; any efficiencies gained in its use and consumption will result in a competitive advantage.

What is a poultry chain feeder system?

(Source)

A poultry chain feeder system is a mechanised method for distributing feed throughout your poultry house.

It operates like a giant conveyor belt, shuttling a continuous flow of feed along the length of troughs laid out in the broiler or layer house.

Because the machine is doing the job, your farm saves on your staff and stockmen having to do it.

5 important steps in how a poultry chain feeder works

1. The feed sits in the hopper and pours into the trough.
2. A motor pulls the chain through the trough, conveying the feed.
3. Corner units enable the chain feeder system to navigate the corners of the poultry house.
4. Restriction grills can be used to control which sex of birds can access the feeding trough.
5. Adjustable legs to set the trough at optimal height for your flock.

Components of a poultry chain feeder system

*Hopper

• Feed enters the hopper via a hose from the feed silo.
• Generally, stores either 150kg or 260kg
• Adjust how much feed enters the trough with the shutter

*Direct Feed

• Feed enters the system via a duct hose vs. a hopper.

Troughs and Couplers

• Feed is conveyed through the trough by a moving chain
• Coupler braces join the trough lengths together

Corners

• Corners afford a change of direction in the direction of the trough through the poultry house
• A rotating wheel inside the casing of the corners allows the feed flow by the change in movement
• A transparent covering helps observation without disassembling

Legs

• Adjustable height
• Keeps the feeding trough off the floor at a set height for birds

Suspension Hooks

• Allows for a more gradual height adjustment (being lowered from the ceiling)
• Alternative to the legs

Restriction Grills and Grill Covers

• Guards prevent birds from getting their heads stuck in the wrong openings in the grill
• Prevents birds over a certain size from using the feeder

Cleaning Outlet

• When cleaning or maintaining the feeder, this outlet is a release for discharging all feed within the system
• Simple access flap to open or close

Chain and Drive Unit

• An electrically powered motor pulls the chain via a toothed gear (with built-in brakes if the system incurs issues)
• It’s this movement of the chain that conveys the feed grain through the trough system

Suspension System

• The suspension system girds the trough track from suspended wires hung from the joists in the ceiling of the poultry house
• An axle is turned mechanically to winch and hoist the system by the wire

Layouts

• You need at least 1x drive unit per 80 meters of trough track (i.e. a circuit)
• But above 150 meters of trough track, it is advised that you add independent single drive unit circuits