Chickens are afraid of treadle feeder.

[la dee da]

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a treadle feeder. I put a brick on the treadle for about 10 days to get the chickens used to it, and they ate from it just fine…until I took the brick off. They can’t seem to figure out to step on the treadle to open the feeder. I tried showing them how by pushing the treadle down, then letting go once a hen is on the treadle and eating, but when she steps off and it closes, they freak out. It was getting to the point of them being afraid of it altogether, so today I just put the brick back on so they can eat.

How do I teach my chickens to use this feeder? I really like it, and I want to use it, but I’m not a natural for animal training. I even opened and closed it many times in front of them to desensitize them, but they just kept away and started making alarm calls.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Pictures please, of the treadle feeder so we know what kind of treadle feeder and can see how it was installed.

And have you reached out to the manufacturer for advice? First thing I ask customers is to send pictures to verify how the feeder is assembled and installed.

Reputable treadle feeder manufacturers don't recommend blocking a treadle feeder open, only in cases where they have an old design and are forced to recommend such to limit returns.

All that said, for ten days they learned that the treadle was supposed to be pinned down and not move, then suddenly it moves. Put yourself in their place; what would you think?

But pictures please. Then we can offer specific advice.

 

[la dee da]

Pictures please, of the treadle feeder so we know what kind of treadle feeder and can see how it was installed.

And have you reached out to the manufacturer for advice? First thing I ask customers is to send pictures to verify how the feeder is assembled and installed.

Reputable treadle feeder manufacturers don't recommend blocking a treadle feeder open, only in cases where they have an old design and are forced to recommend such to limit returns.

All that said, for ten days they learned that the treadle was supposed to be pinned down and not move, then suddenly it moves. Put yourself in their place; what would you think?

But pictures please. Then we can offer specific advice.

It’s the My Favorite Chicken 40 pound feeder; I ordered it from Tractor Supply. I just set it on the coop floor against a wall (I really don’t want to post a pic of my dirty coop, sorry).

I have not reached out to the manufacturer. I’m hoping to get a suggestion here that I can try (no idea how long it would take or if the manufacturer would get back to me).

That’s a good point about me accidentally training them that the treadle doesn’t move; no wonder they’re scared! Do you have any suggestions on how to fix it so they aren’t scared and can start using it properly?

 

[Al Gerhart]

Okay, this helps. That feeder is $34.00 more than a real ratproof treadle feeder but if they are offering free shipping that helps.

Setting a feeder on the ground next to a wall is not good. The heavy hen will have leverage when she steps on the treadle, moving the feeder a bit, not good. Place the feeder on three patio blocks so the feed is up out of the muck and the hen has a large area to step up on before she tries to step onto the treadle. Then the feeder needs fastened to the wall. We provide a meal cleat with our feeders, you just lift the feeder on and off. That stabilizes the feeder, no wobble.

But, if this is a recent purchase, take the feeder back and order a better feeder! Those wire treadles bend quickly, you have to keep bending them back in place so the door opens. The door axle itself is super flimsy, it isn't pre loaded with springs to prevent rodents from just pushing the door open, and the door is set way back, requiring a hen to lean forward to eat and bury her head deep in the feeder which prey species like chickens hate to do.

The old brick on the treadle was something started by the Chinese made Grandpa feeder. The three week " training" schedule that went with it put a lot of folks past the return window on Amazon which in my opinion was why they came up with the idea. Treadle feeders should be introduced to a flock in the manner in which they are used so the birds learn from day one that the door moves and so does the treadle.

But enough of my whining, practical solutions is what you need.

Best thing is to return the feeder so Tractor Supply learns not to sell junk.

But if you want to try to make it work, three patio blocks to give it a solid base, secure it to the wall, a 2 x 4 block screwed to a couple of posts and another block used to connect the feeder is a good solution. There needs to be ZERO wobble if you want the chickens to trust the feeder.

Then pull the feeder for a week or ten days and retrain without blocking the feeder open. Use your toe to show them the feed, do not lift up a chicken and set her on the feeder. All other feed and free range has to be withheld during training, get the hens hungry. Show them the feed with your toe. If one walks up and tries the treadle let her eat for a few seconds and carefully nudge her off the treadle so she tries again. Once or twice, then leave. Come back an hour or two later, repeat the process. Keep doing this until one of the hens learns and teaches the others.

It is good to block off the side access with a couple of milk jugs filled with dirt to force the hens to come in from the front. Under no condition do you stay there for minutes at a time, one or two minutes, no more. You want them motivated. Toss some treats in when they are watching maybe, but make the hens do the work or come back when they are hungry. If all of these directions are followed one hen will pick it up. But if the feeder wobbles, or the hen can't comfortably stand on one leg while depressing the treadle with the other leg, or if there is other feed available or if the human is babying the hens, it will not work.

Let us know how it goes and good luck.

 

[la dee da]

Okay, this helps. That feeder is $34.00 more than a real ratproof treadle feeder but if they are offering free shipping that helps.

I don’t have rat problems thanks to my huntress cat, only mouse, so I’m not worried about rats.

Setting a feeder on the ground next to a wall is not good. The heavy hen will have leverage when she steps on the treadle, moving the feeder a bit, not good. Place the feeder on three patio blocks so the feed is up out of the muck and the hen has a large area to step up on before she tries to step onto the treadle. Then the feeder needs fastened to the wall. We provide a meal cleat with our feeders, you just lift the feeder on and off. That stabilizes the feeder, no wobble.

My feeder doesn’t wobble, and the bedding hasn’t gotten into it. I didn’t attach it to the wall because I use the deep litter method, so the bedding level rises over the year. That said, I was thinking about attaching it to the wall since it’s made to handle that. Maybe I can make 2-3 attachment spots so I can raise it with the bedding? Worth a thought! Either way, I’ll make sure it doesn’t wobble at all.

But, if this is a recent purchase, take the feeder back and order a better feeder! Those wire treadles bend quickly, you have to keep bending them back in place so the door opens. The door axle itself is super flimsy, it isn't pre loaded with springs to prevent rodents from just pushing the door open, and the door is set way back, requiring a hen to lean forward to eat and bury her head deep in the feeder which prey species like chickens hate to do.

The old brick on the treadle was something started by the Chinese made Grandpa feeder. The three week " training" schedule that went with it put a lot of folks past the return window on Amazon which in my opinion was why they came up with the idea. Treadle feeders should be introduced to a flock in the manner in which they are used so the birds learn from day one that the door moves and so does the treadle.

I cannot take the feeder back, as I ordered it online and the box is long gone. I looked into other feeders, but they were either too small or too expensive. This one was a good balance, and I have no ability to spend another $100+ on a new feeder. The chickens had no issue eating from it once it was open.

The brick on the treadle was actually my idea. The winter storms were coming, and I was busy, tired, and sore (had to ask the children to care for my animals sore). I needed a solution and thought that would get the birds used to the feeder (that worked out well )

I looked into your feeders when I was looking into treadle feeders. I looked again just now, and it looks like the medium one after shipping would cost about the same as this one did. I remember it being much higher when I last looked. The soft close feature would be nice for my girls. Unfortunately, I cannot afford another feeder for a long while (all out of Christmas money).


All that said, I’ll try your suggestions to train them to it. Hopefully it’ll work, and I’ll have my mouse-proof, free-choice feeder!

 

[Al Gerhart]

Please reconsider sitting the feeder on the litter. Unless the litter was hard as a rock there would be some wiggle. The patio blocks are cheap and give you a good base above the deep litter.

You are on the right track, and though this feeder isn't mouse proof, at least the feed is out of sight and even a poor treadle feeder is better than no treadle feeder at all. You might get lucky and the mice might never think of pushing open the door.

Good luck. Holler if you need anything else.

 

[la dee da]

Please reconsider sitting the feeder on the litter. Unless the litter was hard as a rock there would be some wiggle. The patio blocks are cheap and give you a good base above the deep litter.

You are on the right track, and though this feeder isn't mouse proof, at least the feed is out of sight and even a poor treadle feeder is better than no treadle feeder at all. You might get lucky and the mice might never think of pushing open the door.

Good luck. Holler if you need anything else.

We have a ton of concrete bricks lying around that I’ll probably use instead of the patio bricks. They’re free and the right height. I never liked it being directly on the litter anyway, but I had no choice, really, because I injured my shoulder right after I hurriedly put it in place for what was supposed to be a short period of time. When it didn’t seem to cause trouble, I just sort of left it there. Oh well; lessons learned!