feeders

Feeder, or feeders in plural, is a term used for objects or organisms whose function is to provide food to another organism or to supply nourishment to a process. The meaning varies by field: in biology, it often refers to live or prepared food sources; in engineering, it denotes devices that dispense materials; and in information systems, it can describe data sources that supply content. The word is used widely in agriculture, aquaculture, pet care, and infrastructure.

In animal care and zoology, feeder organisms or devices supply food to other animals. Common examples include feeder fish kept to be eaten by larger aquarium residents, and feeder insects such as crickets and mealworms used to feed reptiles, birds, and some fish. Suppliers breed and sell these feeders. Health and safety concerns include disease transmission, parasites, and introduction of non-native species, so some keepers use frozen or prepared foods when possible.

In agriculture and industry, automatic feeders dispense feed on schedules or in response to sensors, improving efficiency and reducing labor. They are used for aquaculture tanks, poultry, and other livestock enclosures. In manufacturing, feeders supply raw materials to processing equipment, such as vibratory or belt feeders that feed parts or bulk materials into machines for production lines.

In electrical engineering, a feeder is a power line that carries electricity from a substation to a group of customers or to distribution feeders. In information technology, data feeds or content feeds convey new information to applications and users, forming an essential part of many web services and automation workflows. The term emphasizes the direction of supply from source to consumer.