New Feeder with Step

[TheyThinkI'mTheirMom]

Alas, there are no young ones in my neighborhood to see to feeding my three girls when I will be gone on an upcoming trip. So I purchased a feeder with a lid and a step: when the chicken steps on the step, the lid opens up and they can feed. When they get off the step, the lid gently comes down. [small birds can get through the coop wire and like to eat the feed] Although today is only their first day, they don’t seem to cotton to the new system [what else is new!] Any suggestions? Would appreciate help. Many thanks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Probably like anything new they just have to get used to it. Look up grandpa feeder - I think it is the same idea. See if there are suggestions listed for that.

 

[blackdog043]

I'm no help with the feeder, I use DIY no waste feeders. Hopefully you have a few weeks until you go away, to get them used to the feeder and make sure it works properly. If you can get them to use the feeder, will it hold enough feed for the whole time your gone? Also will your water supply stay clean and be enough?

 

[Folly's place]

Consider having a paid pet sitter, if you can't find a neighbor or friend to check on them daily while you are gone. Too much can happen if there's nobody to watch things.
Mary

 

[Al Gerhart]

Alas, there are no young ones in my neighborhood to see to feeding my three girls when I will be gone on an upcoming trip. So I purchased a feeder with a lid and a step: when the chicken steps on the step, the lid opens up and they can feed. When they get off the step, the lid gently comes down. [small birds can get through the coop wire and like to eat the feed] Although today is only their first day, they don’t seem to cotton to the new system [what else is new!] Any suggestions? Would appreciate help. Many thanks.

That sounds like one of the lightweight aluminum Chinese feeders, is it? The door goes up overhead when the treadle is depressed or is it one of our feeders with the spring loaded door that swings backwards into the feeder?

Regardless of type, chickens HAVE to be hungry to train them quickly. Chickens are chickens, yeah some are a bit more flighty, but if you get them hungry they turn into velociraptors. Make sure the feeder is securely fastened down so it can't wobble and move while they try to use it, make sure the treadle bottoms out on something so they aren't wobbling around while trying to eat, make sure the spring loaded door (if it has one) has been adjusted so it doesn't slam close too hard. Coop them up the night before and about three to four hours after first light they are ready to be trained. Never block a feeder open unless it is a guillotine style feeder, no choice there. Clean up any old feed in the litter too. No snacks, no free range, nothing but what is in the feeder and the birds will learn fast. Use your toe to show them how the feeder works and let one bold one step up and grab a few bites of food then gently push them off and see if they come back. Repeat that lesson two or three times. No results? Stop, go do something else for an hour and repeat the lesson. Follow these instructions to the letter, nothing added, nothing left off, do not attempt to use logic with a chicken, and they will learn the first day or enough of them that the others will train the other birds quickly.