Empty feeder syndrome

[ChickenCanoe]

Also, don't wait till the feed in the container gets down to powder. They won't eat that. When feed breaks down, whether crumbles or pellets, most of the primary ingredients (grains and legumes) gets consumed and all that is left are the vitamins and minerals that are added as powders. If they won't eat it, it isn't feed.

 

[feathermaid]

Do you think they could be bored? They don’t get outside a lot because we dont have their pen ready and lots of hawks in our area.

Yes, definitely bored. At 9 weeks, they're pretty big, fully feathered and ready to be outside and stretch their wings. They need A LOT of space to prevent aggressive behavior and this is the age when they start establishing pecking order. I also only use those little chick feeders for just the first few weeks, yours are ready for full size feeders that hold 7-25 lbs.

It's important to get them exposed to the outside so they can start building resistance to pathogens in your yard. I usually introduce a chunk of sod in the brooder at about 1-2 weeks old and take them to the grass for short visits. If they're in the coop, you need to get their run accessible asap. If you raised them with a heat lamp, it's likely they're more upset about being in the dark than lack of heat when you turn it off. They shouldn't need heat by this age and they'll huddle together for warmth if needed and their feathers are excellent insulation.
Are they roosting at night yet?
Do they have access to a dust bath to help clean their skin and prevent parasites?
You can add enrichment with more perches, platforms or tree stumps at different heights, add a hanging head of cabbage or suet feeder to give them something to peck at or toss in a bale (or a flake) of hay or straw to scratch through. More space and activities usually solves most problems.

 

[Katejc]

Thanks for the suggestions! We have two of those feeders. They have a decent amount of space for 4 of them but its a temp space while their coop is being built. We take them on field trips regularly. We have 2 cockerels and 2 pullets and so far everyone gets along really well! The smallest of them all seems to be the alpha, but in an assertive way rather then an aggressive way. The pecking order seems to be established and hopefully everyone keeps getting along. We hope to keep everyone and introduce two same aged aged pullets once spring comes. I will definitely add more stimulation to the coop. It seems the behaviour is the one cockerel being a bit of a mommas boy and letting me know that he needs his light turned on or his food is low or needs water. Its the cutest thing ever. The heat lamp we need to get away from. We turn it on at night, temps get to about 20 at night here at the moment. I know I shouldnt but I am a sucker!!

 

[muddy75]

When my first chicks were small (going outside at first) I had a solar light that was relatively inexpensive on amazon that I would turn on at dusk to allow everyone to get settled and then it would turn off after a few hours. I also put some toys in the aviary but few showed real interest however they will pick a head of cabbage clean in a few days!! DH drills a hole through it and hangs it from the roof.