The Farm-Tuff 36 Inch Reel Top Feed Trough is a galvanized steel poultry feeder with a spinning reel bar across the top that prevents birds from roosting on the feeder and contaminating feed.
It suits chickens, ducks, and game birds in coop or pen settings where feed cleanliness and waste reduction are priorities. Foldable legs allow height adjustment for different flock ages. To refill the trough, the reel bar needs to be removed first by sliding it off its pins, which adds a small step to the refill process.
Specifications
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Material: Galvanized steel
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Dimensions: 36"L x 5"W x 4.5"H
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Anti-Roost Feature: Spinning reel bar across the top
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Waste Reduction: 3/8-inch lip along feeding edge
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Legs: Foldable, adjustable height
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Reel Bar Mount: Slides on two pins, removable without tools
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Compatible Feed Types: Pellets, mash, grain
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Compatible Species: Chickens, ducks, game birds
Keeping Feed Clean in Flocks That Roost on Feeders or Toss Feed with Their Beaks
If your flock has developed a habit of roosting on the feeder and defecating into the feed, or beak-tossing grain out of open trough designs, this feeder addresses both problems in one unit.
The spinning reel bar across the top physically prevents birds from landing and standing on the feeder, which eliminates the contamination that makes open-top feeders impractical in active flocks. The 3/8-inch lip along the feeding edge slows the beak-tossing behavior that wastes feed in standard troughs.
The adjustable folding legs let you set the trough height to match your flock, whether you are feeding chicks at a lower position or adult birds at a more natural standing height. The galvanized steel construction holds up in coop environments where moisture and daily animal contact degrade plastic alternatives over time.
What to Expect from the Farm-Tuff 36 Inch Reel Top Feed Trough in Real Use
The spinning reel bar is the standout functional feature and it works as intended for keeping birds off the top of the feeder and out of the feed. Buyers running flocks that previously contaminated every other feeder style report clean feed and no droppings in the trough after switching to this design.
Some flocks initially resist using the feeder with the reel bar in place, particularly birds transitioning from open trough or hanging feeder setups. Removing the reel bar temporarily during the transition period and reintroducing it once birds are comfortable eating from the trough has worked for buyers dealing with hesitant flocks.
Refilling requires sliding the reel bar off its pins to access the trough opening. The bar is not bolted and slides freely, which makes removal easy but also means it can come loose if the feeder is picked up from the bar rather than the body. Lifting from the trough itself avoids that issue.
The adjustable legs handle uneven ground, which is a practical advantage in coops where the floor surface is not perfectly level.
Real-world performance notes sourced in part from verified Amazon customer purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you refill the Farm-Tuff reel top trough without removing the entire bar assembly?
The reel bar slides on two pins at either end of the trough and is not bolted in place. To refill, you slide the bar off the pins, fill the trough, and slide it back on. The process takes only a few seconds and requires no tools. Always lift the feeder from the trough body rather than the bar to keep it from coming loose during transport.
Can the reel bar be removed permanently if your flock refuses to use the feeder with it installed?
Yes. The bar slides on and off without any fasteners, so removing it entirely is straightforward. Some buyers have removed the bar during an initial transition period to let birds get comfortable with the trough, then reintroduced it once feeding behavior was established. Others have left it off permanently and still benefited from the lip design and leg height adjustability.
What leg height settings are available and how do you adjust them?
The legs fold and adjust to accommodate different flock ages and floor conditions. Younger birds and chicks benefit from a lower setting that keeps the trough lip within easy reach, while adult birds feed more naturally from a raised position. The folding design also allows the feeder to sit flat without the legs deployed if ground-level feeding is preferred or if the feeder is being stored.
