How to train them to use a new feeder?

[cluckmecoop7]

Hi all,

I have 6 seven week old chickens. I just switched them to a new feeder but I don't know how to train them to use it. It is that 5 gallon bucket one where you drill a hole in the bottom and put some thinks like bolts, and washers and then some PVC pipe for them to peck at. Do you know which feeder I'm talking about? Well, if you don't just go to YouTube and type in "chicken bucket feeder". That should work.....I hope.

Well, thanks!

 

[paneubert]

Like when they are chicks and need to be shown water, you usually get the best results by showing them over and over. Peck at the bolt to show them that it releases food. You may need to do this for a long time....so maybe pick a day when you can sit out there and peck the bolt every so often for a couple hours. It will work best if they are hungry.... so maybe take away their old feeder when they go to roost, then teach them the new feeder the next morning, starting a bit after they usually would wake up and eat their breakfast.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Like when they are chicks and need to be shown water, you usually get the best results by showing them over and over. Peck at the bolt to show them that it releases food. You may need to do this for a long time....so maybe pick a day when you can sit out there and peck the bolt every so often for a couple hours. It will work best if they are hungry.... so maybe take away their old feeder when they go to roost, then teach them the new feeder the next morning, starting a bit after they usually would wake up and eat their breakfast.

Thank you so much! Here is a picture of some of them:

 

[Granolape]

I just built one of these bucket feeders and waiting a day till they were really hungry. I tried showing them, I tried putting their head right next to it, I tried the laser thing. After an hour, none of my 4 ladies were getting the hang of it. Then I remembered they love yogurt. I dipped the corks on the end of the bolt in yogurt. They started pecking away! After a few round of yogurt, 3 of the 4 are now pecking at the feeder even without yogurt on the corks.

 

[Granolape]

Mmm yogurt

 

[Mrs. K]

Or spread toggle with peanut butter, and dip in scratch.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Hey guys!
This is a really old thread, and I don't need anymore advice. My chickens are twenty weeks old now.

 

[Mrs. K]

How did you like the feeder?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

How did you like the feeder?

If your talking to me, I did not like it at all.
Chickens like to peck and scratch on the ground...and besides, they might hurt their beaks on the bolt.