New treadle feeders help with training

[Australorp Chook]

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve been on here but our chickens are doing well however, we’re struggling with the new treadle feeders we got them last week. The girls are terrified of them when they move, and we’ve been propping them open with a brick, and I’ve been reading multiple posts saying that’s not what we’re supposed to do so weird going to try a new tactic tomorrow. They’re currently eating out the side of the feeder, but we don’t mind too much at the moment because it means they’re eating. They were getting more comfortable with them, walking onto the ramp (while it was propped open), but then yesterday they had a major setback and wouldn’t go anywhere near it, wearer still not quite sure why. The posts I’ve been reading say to cut off all the other food supplies so they learn to eat from the feeders, but our chickens are free-range chickens and our garden is quite big, with a lot of leaf litter. Tomorrow we’re going to try opening and closing it while one of us holds a chicken, to try get them used to the movement. What other things can we do to help train them? Thank you for your time, and I’ll post a picture of them tomorrow.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Okay, NZ, right? Likely one of the Chinese made Grandpa feeders or another of the many Chinese made clones of the Grandpa feeder? Overhead lid, wide aluminum step with holes punched in it?

If not, pictures please.

On the blocking a feeder open, that is a tactic designed solely for getting past the Amazon 30 day return window. They recommend a couple of weeks with the lid propped open, another week with minimal movement of the lid, that gives you one week that you blame yourself instead of sending the antiquated designed feeder back for a refund.

It is counterproductive to block the feeder open because it teaches the hens that the lid is NOT supposed to move during use. We sell a very cheap $36.00 feeder with the overhead lid, useful for broilers or for those without an $85.00 budget for a real feeder but even there we recommend ALWAYS training like the feeder will be used. Slower to train, yes.

Side feeding will get your hens killed. Block access with a couple of hollow blocks (cement blocks, CMU) or a couple of milk jugs filled with dirt or sand. Bring them forward to the front of the treadle step, force the hens to come in from the front. Make absolutely CERTAIN that the feeder doesn't wiggle or rock around, rock solid, or the hens will feel the wobble and won't trust the feeder.

Free range, yes you HAVE to restrict them to a coop during training or you will cause so many problems. They need to be hungry, with zero other feed or free range or snacks available. One, two days, is enough IF you have followed the directions with a proper inward swinging door style feeder that is solidly mounted to a wall or post.

Do NOT hold a chicken trying to teach them to eat. You are teaching them that a human must hold them for them to use the feeder. Chickens are not stupid but they are low intelligence, their knowledge comes from instinct or from experience.

To train, follow ALL of the instructions above. Hold the treadle down with your foot and toss some treats into the feeder with the chickens watching. When one steps up, let her eat a few mouthfuls, then gently sweep her off the treadle and let her step back on the treadle by herself. If she doesn't, she isn't hungry, go do something else for an hour or two. The first one will teach the others once she catches on.

Snacks or treats can be used ONLY during training by tossing them into the lower feed hopper while the hens are watching. Don't bury them in the bulk feed or the hens will begin raking searching for the goodies.

NEVER give in until a couple of days have passed and it is 99% sure that you have done something or not done something to cause this much trouble in training. Once you give in, you risk teaching the hens that you will give in again if they just refuse to use the new feeder. IF you have to pull a treadle feeder because the hens refuse to use it, wait a half day before replacing the old feeder or hand feeding. Avoid association the change in feeder to their reluctance to use the feeder.

Wait one week before re introducing the treadle feeder IF you have re read the instructions and understand what you did wrong. Reach out to the manufacture, they want you to succeed, they will offer help. Send pictures from the first request for help, can't diagnose a problem without seeing the feeder. No phone calls, use email with picture. Focus on the actual facts, not your feelings, not how pissed off you are to have spent money on something that "doesn't work" because with a proper inward swinging door feeder you are 99% sure to be the problem, not the hens, not the feeder.

 

[Three Stents]

post pic of your feeder here please

 

[Australorp Chook]

Hi Al, thanks for replying. We got our feeder from trademe, and we have blocked off the direct sides. I should have been more clear, when I said they were eating out the side, I mean they’re eat from the front, but they’re not standing on the ramp when they do, but rather the corner. Here’s a picture.

Sorry they’re so messy, we’re gonna clean them soon, but we’ve had a lot of sparrows (which is why we got these). The netting on the ramp is to stop the noise it makes when they step in it, because it was scaring them, but we’re gonna take it off soonish. Here’s a picture of our coop too, I’m just worried it’s too small to keep them in there for while, and they got the to point where they were trying to find a way to fly out even with a metal grate covering the doorway.

Unfortunately, it didn’t come with instructions, so we’ve been researching abt how to train them, I realise it’s not in a great spot and it does wobble a bit, do you have any tips on how to set it up better/correctly? We’ve been feeding them a handful of scratch while they’re near the feeders, with one of us moving the lid up and down on stepping on the ramp to try get them used to it moving.
Thanks again for your time and your tips!

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

We've got two of the Grandfather feeders and have had great success with them for a very long time now (maybe 7 years or so?). Our older girls train our new ones, so it's been a while since I've trained, but ours came with pins/screws that hold the lid open at various levels to allow the hens to become accustomed to the idea. At first, there is no movement, and then you continue to move the screw to allow more and more movement. I think it's about 3 steps in all, and I think mine were more curious than afraid of it lol. Did this one come with anything like that?

We have the feeders raised up on a wide row of 4x8x16 solid concrete blocks and the feeder has wings that block feeding from the sides. The girls could still likely feed from the sides but it would be a serious stretch, so there's no incentive for them to try. As long as I keep the feeders at least 25% filled, they're heavy enough not to move. If you're interested, I can try to post a picture tomorrow.

What is on the actual treadle step? That might be kinda scary for a chicken.