Feeder Makes Chicken Chores Easier

Feeder Makes Chicken Chores Easier Riverbend Resources of West Bridgewater, Mass., is helping backyard poultry owners simplify one of the messiest parts of chicken keeping: daily feeding and watering. The company was founded by Erik Diedrichsen, an inventor, veteran and entrepreneur whose path to poultry products began almost by accident. “About 20 years ago, I met the girl of my dreams,” says Diedrichsen. “We settled down and started our family just outside Boston. My mother-in-law worked at an elementary school that hatched chicks for the students, and one day she asked if we were interested in taking them. I knew absolutely nothing about chickens, but reluctantly agreed.” That first small flock included five hens and one rooster. Before long, the Diedrichsen family’s backyard life had expanded well beyond chickens. Dogs, cats, bees, maple syruping, gardens and even goats became part of the family’s small homestead. Like many backyard chicken owners, Diedrichsen quickly learned that the animals were enjoyable, but the chores could be messy. Feeders spilled. Rain got in. Chickens scratched feed all over the ground. Rodents found the leftovers. Waterers needed constant attention. Then, in 2020, while his trade show exhibit business was largely shut down due to COVID, Diedrichsen noticed that the family’s homemade chicken feeder had broken. “I remember thinking, ‘Why don’t they make a kit for this?’” he says. “Then I realized there really was no ‘they.’ If I wanted it, I was probably going to have to make it myself.” That idea became the Poultry Pro Feeder, a simple yet highly practical feeder-port kit that lets chicken owners turn almost any plastic container, bucket or barrel into a weather-resistant poultry feeder. The design helps keep feed inside the container, where it stays cleaner and drier, while reducing waste, mess and rodent access. Unlike many traditional feeders that leave feed exposed to wind, rain, scratching and spillage, the Poultry Pro Feeder is designed for real-world backyard use. It installs quickly, includes the required hole saw, and works with containers customers may already own. “There really wasn’t anything like it available when we started,” says Diedrichsen. “Now feeder ports have become another standard way of feeding chickens. That’s been exciting to see, but it also reminds us that we created the original product and did the hard work to bring it to market.” The product has since won multiple awards, appeared on “Shark Tank,” and helped establish Riverbend Resources as an innovation-driven company in the backyard poultry market. The company has also expanded beyond feeding with the Poultry Pro Waterer, which attaches to a standard 5-gal bucket and can connect directly to a garden hose for easier filling. The waterer is designed to increase capacity, simplify cleaning and transport, and provide antimicrobial protection to help reduce algae growth. Both products are designed for backyard chicken owners, homesteaders, and small to medium farms seeking practical tools without complicated installation. “Our goal has always been simple,” says Diedrichsen. “We want to make caring for animals easier, cleaner and more enjoyable. These products came from our own backyard and our own frustrations, so we understand the customer because we are the customer.” Both the Poultry Pro Feeder and the Poultry Pro Waterer have an MSRP of $29.95. “What started with chickens has grown into something much bigger,” says Diedrichsen. “We’re building a line of smart, practical products for people who love animals and want to spend less time fighting messy chores and more time enjoying them.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Riverbend Resources, West Bridgewater, Mass. 02379 (ph 508-408-0114; info@riverbendresources.com; www.riverbendresources.com).

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