Farm supplies cover the gear backyard farmers and hobby smallholders need to keep chickens, ducks, goats, sheep and other livestock healthy and contained. Our range covers automatic and gravity feeders, watering troughs, brooder heat plates, incubators, feed storage bins, electric fence kits, hay racks, and feed mixers. Over 70 farm supply products in stock across our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses, from $30 small feeders to $500 large incubator setups. Most orders dispatch within 1–2 business days.
What basic farm supplies do backyard chicken keepers need?
For a backyard flock of 4–8 chickens, the essential gear is straightforward. A gravity-fed feeder holding 5–10kg of feed (saves daily refilling), a water container that won't tip and holds 5–10 litres, a separate grit and shell container, a hay or straw nesting material supply, and a rat-proof feed storage bin for the bulk feed bag. Add a brooder heat plate if you're raising chicks from day-olds. Total setup runs around $200–350, on top of the coop itself. Most equipment lasts 5–10 years; the heat plate is the main consumable replacement.
What types of farm supplies are available?
| Category |
Best for |
Price guide |
Lifespan |
| Feeders (gravity, automatic) |
Reduce daily refilling |
$30–$150 |
5–10 years |
| Watering troughs |
Multiple birds or livestock |
$40–$200 |
5–10 years |
| Brooder heat plates |
Chick raising |
$60–$150 |
3–5 years |
| Incubators |
Hatching eggs |
$150–$500 |
5–10 years |
| Feed storage bins |
Bulk feed, rat-proof |
$50–$180 |
10+ years |
| Electric fence kits |
Goats, sheep, defending poultry |
$100–$400 |
5–10 years |
| Hay racks |
Goats, rabbits, livestock |
$30–$120 |
5–10 years |
Are automatic feeders worth the cost?
For flocks of 6+ chickens, yes. Manual feeding twice a day adds up to 2–3 hours a week and creates a feeding-time bottleneck where dominant birds bully the smaller ones away from the feed. A treadle-operated automatic feeder lets birds self-feed throughout the day, opens only when a chicken stands on the platform (excluding rats and wild birds), and holds 5–10 days of feed. The cost difference is significant — $50 manual feeder versus $150–250 treadle automatic — but the time savings and rat exclusion pay back within months for most backyard keepers. For 2–4 birds, a simple gravity feeder works fine.
Quick buyer's checklist
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Feeder capacity: 5–10 days of feed for your flock size
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Water capacity: 1 litre per chicken per 24 hours minimum
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Rat-proofing: Treadle or covered feeders exclude rodents
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Storage bin: Bulk feed (25kg+) needs rat-proof storage
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Material: Galvanised metal and food-grade plastic for longevity
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Position: Feeders and waterers inside the run, sheltered from rain
What about incubators — are they worth it for backyard keepers?
Only if you want chicks specifically. Most backyard chicken keepers buy day-old chicks or pullets from a breeder for $15–25 per bird, which works out cheaper and more reliable than hatching your own. Incubators are worth the investment if you're breeding from your own flock, raising rare or heritage breeds (point-of-lay birds are expensive), or want kids to experience the hatching process for educational reasons. A small incubator holds 7–12 eggs and runs $150–300; large incubators hold 50+ eggs at $400–800. Hatching success rates run 50–80% for hobby incubators, so factor that into the bird-cost math.
How much do farm supplies cost in Australia?
Farm supplies at Simple Deals start from $30 for basic feeders and waterers. Most quality automatic and rat-proof equipment sits between $80 and $250, with larger incubators and electric fence setups running higher. All farm supplies dispatch within 1–2 business days from our Australian warehouses.
What most farm suppliers won't admit
Almost every backyard farm supply sold online in Australia is imported from China — including ours. The real difference is not where the equipment is made, it's what happens after it lands in Australia. Marketplaces dropship straight from overseas containers, which is why "fast delivery" stretches into six weeks. We import in bulk, hold stock across our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses, and ship from there.
The other thing nobody mentions: rats are the biggest hidden cost of backyard chicken keeping. Open-style feeders attract rats, which then breed in the coop walls, eat feed at night, and carry disease to the flock. A rat-proof treadle feeder ($150) plus rat-proof feed storage bin ($100) saves the cost of pest control, lost feed, and dead chickens over a season. Most experienced keepers say the rat-proof gear should be the first farm supplies you buy, before the fancy waterers or fence kits.
Frequently asked questions
What if my farm supply arrives damaged?
Contact us within 7 days with photos. We will arrange a replacement or refund under the 12-month warranty. Transit damage is uncommon with packaged farm equipment.
Does the incubator come with eggs?
No — fertile eggs are sold separately from breeders or hatcheries. Most incubators include instructions and a calibrated thermometer.
How long does delivery take?
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 3–5 business days. Perth and Adelaide: 5–8 days. Regional and remote areas: 7–14 days.
Can I pay with Afterpay, Zip or PayPal?
Yes, all three. A $200 farm supply setup works out to four payments of $50 with Afterpay, four payments of $50 with PayPal Pay in 4, or roughly $17 a month with Zip over 12 months. Klarna is also available.
What's the warranty?
12 months on manufacturing defects, plus 15-day returns on unused items in original packaging.
Complete the backyard farm setup
Farm supplies cover the equipment, and a few pieces complete the small-livestock setup. Most backyard farmers add three at the same time: a coop or hutch for housing, pest control for rats and mites, and a temporary enclosure for supervised free-range time.
Why us
Simple Deals — family-run since 2018. Australian warehouse stock. Support on 1300 456 786. Afterpay, Zip, Klarna and PayPal. 12-month warranty, 15-day returns. 4.66★ from 5,363 verified reviews.
