The invention relates to a method and a device for very accurately metering a quantity by weight of food for being supplied to small livestock, such as poultry, which small livestock is present in a number of cages (1) placed one behind the other. The outflow of food from a food hopper (6) filled with food, can be stop the moment when is determined that the receiving trough (13) contains a sufficient quantity of food.
This quantity of food corresponds to a certain desired quantity of food per animal multiplied by the number of animals to be fed. After the receiving trough (13) has been filled it is emptied for example into a feed trough (2). The preference the device is provided with a sensor (29) or the like which can scan an indicator (30) which can be fastened to a cage (1), which indicator (30) emits a signal indicating the number of animals present in that cage (1).