Training "stubborn" hens

[The Good Grumble]

I feed 2x per day, and use a call for food. They get fed in the morning. Enough that they run out. Then they get fed again about 2 hours before dark so they’re back in and I can enjoy the evening without stress of getting them in. They often don’t finish “dinner” but they’re excited to get it and come running. I have 3 EE’s and they will fly to my shoulders so excited for dinner.

 

[The Good Grumble]

Food should always be available 24/7 unless there is a serious reason to not do so, like for example training reason.

If they’re out free ranging they rarely go into the coop to eat food. And they also don’t eat or drink at night so I don’t understand why they need food 24/7

 

[Altairsky]

To each their own. I have full automation in my coop, no issues with rats, mice, birds, no food spilled, so why do I have to waste time and wear my back to feed chickens twice a day? I just dump a bucket of grains in the treadle feeder once a month and that's it.
My free ranging chickens eat 1€ of food each per month in the good season, but I want them to have food available all the time because they better self regulate and there are less fights and pecking order issues.
When the dominant hens are out free ranging, the shy hens and young pullet can use the feeder undisturbed. Throwing some food out only twice a day, there will always be those who eat like freaking vacuum cleaners, and the shy ones never manage to eat enough.

 

[Raubkatze]

How old are they? I've had the same problem with younger birds. They eventually get with the program on their own.

They are 13 weeks old.

 

[ChaosMom]

…Throwing some food out only twice a day, there will always be those who eat like freaking vacuum cleaners, and the shy ones never manage to eat enough.

I see you have met my Barred Rock!

 

[Raubkatze]

I am going to have to find a new spot to feed the murder. The stump has now become a favorite spot for the chooks to hang out.

 

[alwaystj9]

I only feed mine in the evening. In the morning when I go to the pen, they all rush to the gate to go out to pasture. They have 100% access to the coop/nest boxes all day until feed time. In the evening I go in the coop and say "Out, Out!" and they all are trained to leave the pen while I put out feed. While I am checking & filling feeders & waterers, they all come in from pasture and gather next to the gate. When I am ready and call "Chick, Chick!", they all come in and munch down. I do have to spend a bit of time training each group of added teen pullets to go out & come in. The amount that I feed in the evening is enough that there is a small amount left in each feeder in the morning and they clean it up before going out. Right now I am feeding 7 1/2 lbs. of feed each evening for around 30-35 birds. .

 

[ChaosMom]

I only feed mine in the evening. In the morning when I go to the pen, they all rush to the gate to go out to pasture. They have 100% access to the coop/nest boxes all day until feed time. In the evening I go in the coop and say "Out, Out!" and they all are trained to leave the pen while I put out feed. While I am checking & filling feeders & waterers, they all come in from pasture and gather next to the gate. When I am ready and call "Chick, Chick!", they all come in and munch down. I do have to spend a bit of time training each group of added teen pullets to go out & come in. The amount that I feed in the evening is enough that there is a small amount left in each feeder in the morning and they clean it up before going out. Right now I am feeding 7 1/2 lbs. of feed each evening for around 30-35 birds. .

I just flashed to the scene early in “The Sound of Music” when Captain von Trapp lines the children up for inspection, and then marches them off to the whistle.

 

[alwaystj9]

I just flashed to the scene early in “The Sound of Music” when Captain von Trapp lines the children up for inspection, and then marches them off to the whistle.

My #1 reason to sell a pullet or hen is inability to get in the line-up! I have sold birds that cannot seem to figure out how to turn the corner and go to the gate area.