why won't my hens eat if the feeder is in the coop?

[l'abeille]

I'd like to keep my pellet feeder in the coop due to rain and vermin. But my new hens won't eat unless I throw pellets in their run or move the feeder outside. They basically just sleep in the run. They don't even bother to eat the scratch I throw on the coop floor at dusk but just go straight to their roost. I open their door pretty early in the morning, they are still on the roost but head straight outside without using the feeder. How can I get them to come in to eat?

 

[Imp]

Take away the roost in the run. And put them in the coop on a roost after dark. You may need to lock them in the coop for a week or two to teach them the coop is home.

Imp

 

[Mahonri]

If you don't feed them outside, eventually they'll find the feed on the inside.

 

[Oopoo]

A hungry chicken will eat!