Need advice for feeding aggression...

[dunnmom]

Maybe try a small amount of treat to distract? It sounds like you've unintentionally trained your whole flock to be food aggressive?

Yeah, I think that’s what happened. I get in a hurry to get the feeding done sometimes and ignore the bad behavior. I shot myself in the foot there, I admit it, it was me the whole time. I’ll see if any of these suggestions help.

 

[dunnmom]

Yeah, I didn’t think about the fact that holding it over my head might make them jump higher. That may not be the best idea, since I’m only 5 ft. tall. They’ve never pecked me in the face before, but it is possible, I’ve seen them jump that high before. Not at me, but when they’ve gotten startled.

 

[dunnmom]

I like the suggestions. I feed from outside the pens and have as little contact as possible other then my yard hens that are like puppies.

How can I run a feeder tube in from the outside without compromising the predator proofness of my run? Right now, there are no holes or gaps, and I’ve tried hard to keep it that way. How is yours set up? I know I can cap the tube to keep critters, rain, crud out of it, but how to keep it stable and no gaps?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

How many chickens do you have? Maybe adding another feeder in a different location could help?

 

[dunnmom]

How many chickens do you have? Maybe adding another feeder in a different location could help?

I have 8. They have 2 food dishes already and they are confined to the coop and run until we can afford another fence to keep them from wondering off property and keep stray dogs out of our yard.

 

[hillbilly91]

How can I run a feeder tube in from the outside without compromising the predator proofness of my run? Right now, there are no holes or gaps, and I’ve tried hard to keep it that way. How is yours set up? I know I can cap the tube to keep critters, rain, crud out of it, but how to keep it stable and no gaps?

I feed once a day and throw it in the pen. I know how much each bird needs and feed accordingly. If your wanting it as a automatic feeder just use a 3in pvc pipe and according pvc couplings to accommodate your coop. You can get many ideas off Google just search pvc chicken feeders

 

[CB3fish]

I have a young roo named Jaws who is working on his right to stay with the Bond girls. He was pretty aggressive until we rehomed the other roo we got out of the same hatch. He earned his moniker from clamping down on my finger one day, not intending to let go. He got disciplined pretty good for that by my husband who saw it happen. Now he mostly keeps to himself when I go into the run, and I know that’s probably how it should be.

But, when I bring their food, he tries to grab the cup or knock it from my grasp. Unfortunately, I think he may have picked up that bad habit from my hens who also get too impatient. How do I stop this behavior once and for all, so I don’t end up with dominance issues with Jaws?

 

[dunnmom]

I feed once a day and throw it in the pen. I know how much each bird needs and feed accordingly. If your wanting it as a automatic feeder just use a 3in pvc pipe and according pvc couplings to accommodate your coop. You can get many ideas off Google just search pvc chicken feeders

Thank you!

 

[CB3fish]

Why don't you put out the feed before you let the chickens out? Mine are in the coop and I put out the feed and let them out. I lock them in at night because of the raccoons.

 

[CB3fish]

I feed once a day and throw it in the pen. I know how much each bird needs and feed accordingly. If your wanting it as a automatic feeder just use a 3in pvc pipe and according pvc couplings to accommodate your coop. You can get many ideas off Google just search pvc chicken feeders

Do you throw the scratch on the ground or feed from a feeder?