feeder

A feeder is a device, structure, or entity that supplies food or other material to another organism or process in a controlled way. In everyday use, feeders deliver edible items to animals or birds, while in industrial contexts the term denotes equipment that meters and feeds bulk solids into machinery or processes.

Domestic and wildlife feeders include bird feeders, pet feeders, and automatic or manual devices that release food at scheduled times or in response to weight, motion, or time. They may use gravity, screws, belts, or trays and are designed to minimize waste and prevent contamination. Bird feeders are often placed outdoors to nourish wild birds; pet feeders are used in homes and kennels to control portions and feeding times.

Industrial feeders are components in mining, mineral processing, chemical, and food-processing plants. Types include screw (auger) feeders, belt feeders, apron feeders, and vibratory feeders. They regulate the flow of bulk solids from storage to a process, control feed rate, and can include loss-in-weight or gravimetric systems for precise dosing. Applications include feeding crushers and furnaces, or feeding raw materials into mixers and dryers.

In information technology and media, a feeder can refer to a data source or content stream that provides material to a system or service, such as a data feeder, a streaming feed, or an RSS feed. In broadcasting, feeder services distribute program material to networks. The term is also used in specialized contexts to describe organisms or systems that supply nutrients or input to others.