Ex-Farm Chickens can't use feeder!

[isavedchickens]

Hello. I rescued three chickens a couple of weeks ago. They were free range, but with 2000 other birds. They are settling into life in our garden, and as it was a bit of an impulsive thing to do saving these chickens we're still getting bits and bobs that they need. Their feeder arrived yesterday and I put the food they have been eating quite happily in it, but I don't think they know how to use it! This is what I bought them http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/2.5_KG_Delux_Plastic_Outdoor_Feeder.html I put some corn in it this afternoon to encourage them to eat from it, but it got to 19:30 tonight when they normally start going to bed and they were following me around the garden looking like they wanted to eat me! So I got a couple of bowls and put food in it and they emptied both bowls!! So how did I teach them to eat from their feeder?

Also, not sure if I can post this here or if I need to post in another section, one of our chickens is very aggressive towards the others (hence me putting two bowls of food down) and really picks on the smallest bird (who hasn't laid an egg since being here-is that normal she seems the most timid) and tonight the aggressive chicken wouldn't let the other two chickens in the hen house. I understand about pecking order, but it looks totally vicious.

 

[jdavis]

leave the feed in the feeder they will learn to cope with it they will not let themselves starve, they just need to learn where to eat, and as fare as the little hen getting picked on you may try and seperate the aggresor form the flock for a few days and then return her to the flock that sometimes helps if it doesnt then she will just have to learn to protect herself or stay away from the aggressive hen.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Stop feeding them in bowls

Leave feed in the feeders all the time and let them figure it out

 

[isavedchickens]

Ok, I'll leave them to it. Thanks!