treadle/(Grandpas) feeder help— not progressing

[Kyatesw]

Again, trying setting 2. They are afraid and haven't eaten from it all day. How long should I let them be hungry, before I put it back to setting 1?

You need to stop moving it back. When they get hungry enough they will eat from it. And you really only need one to be brave enough, the others will just wait until the bravest chicken steps on it.

But again, you are just confusing things by going back a step. When they are hungry enough they will figure it out.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

I own all silkies and naked necks and my silkies are just fine with it, try opening and closing it while in the coop with them, I did that and they got it and started using it just fine, its obvious they know where the feed is, they just seem scared of the movement, eventually they will get used to it. Don't allow them to free range or they will fill up and not use the feeder, but make sure their crops are full by night though, they will get it eventually

 

[Sammster]

I just found this video from grandpa, himself. We are going to give it a try, after Thanksgiving. I did as you suggested, opening and closing it, while in their run. They wouldn't have it. It's 4:00, and close to roosting time - so I put the feeder back to 1, tossed them a bit of scratch and sprinkled some scratch on the tredle and on top of the feed. I don't want them to go to roost, hungry

 

[Sammster]

You need to stop moving it back. When they get hungry enough they will eat from it. And you really only need one to be brave enough, the others will just wait until the bravest chicken steps on it.

But again, you are just confusing things by going back a step. When they are hungry enough they will figure it out.

But.... how long should I let them go hungry? Days?

 

[Lizzy733]

Ours is similar - feed-o-matic style as I didnt like the idea of the guillotine ones. We do have one silkie who uses it and another (very new silkie) learning.

I did not use training settings as I did not want to teach the rats this was a food source. Instead, I let my flock get hungry and then opened the feeder using the tread while they were watching and reached in to ensure they could see\hear the rattling food.

I let them step up to investigate and removed my hand once their weight was on the feeder so it would bang when they stepped off.

I also raised my hand from it softly with them watching so they could hear and see the feeder in action.

If they would not approach the feeder on their own, I set them directly on the tread and barred their escape till they noticed the food and had their fill.

I did this for 2-3 days, maybe twice a day? You just need one to 'get it' then everyone else will figure it out. Even new chicks will quickly get the hang of it once they learn they are mighty in numbers.

 

[Sammster]

I let them step up to investigate and removed my hand once their weight was on the feeder so it would bang when they stepped off.

I also raised my hand from it softly with them watching so they could hear and see the feeder in action.

I did do both of these things. I convinced one hen to step on it. Then I removed my hand. She was very scared when she hopped off. They all were.

If they would not approach the feeder on their own, I set them directly on the tread and barred their escape till they noticed the food and had their fill.

I haven't tried this. My chicks don't like being handled. This might add to their stress. But, maybe with the weight added, I can entice the brave girl to try again

I did this for 2-3 days, maybe twice a day? You just need one to 'get it' then everyone else will figure it out. Even new chicks will quickly get the hang of it once they learn they are mighty in numbers.

Thank you, Lizzy.

 

[Lizzy733]

I did do both of these things. I convinced one hen to step on it. Then I removed my hand. She was very scared when she hopped off. They all were.

I haven't tried this. My chicks don't like being handled. This might add to their stress. But, maybe with the weight added, I can entice the brave girl to try again

Thank you, Lizzy.

Silkies do seem to be fiddly about being off their feet. I've found reaching from above, thumbs over shoulders with hands wrapped around the wings and 2 fingers in front and two behind their legs and lift causes the least fuss.

They hate the one hand scoop under unless I also pin their wings with the other hand, but they can still usually get their wings free that way. With the above, I find they don't tend to be able to break out and settle pretty quickly. - easy to move them into a traditional football hold from there, but they may not like their feet hanging. Seems to be all about ample body support. - My normal hens aren't nearly as fussed and I can scoop them up with ease.

The silkies always getting their special treatment.

 

[Sammster]

Silkies do seem to be fiddly about being off their feet. I've found reaching from above, thumbs over shoulders with hands wrapped around the wings and 2 fingers in front and two behind their legs and lift causes the least fuss.

They hate the one hand scoop under unless I also pin their wings with the other hand, but they can still usually get their wings free that way. With the above, I find they don't tend to be able to break out and settle pretty quickly. - easy to move them into a traditional football hold from there, but they may not like their feet hanging. Seems to be all about ample body support. - My normal hens aren't nearly as fussed and I can scoop them up with ease.

The silkies always getting their special treatment.

Hmmm..... wish I could see this. I'm having a hard time visualizing it.
I have RIRs, and do the one hand scoop, bring them to the chest. It's usually when I put them back down that I get scratched up. They kind of panic. They are all Friendly, and totally love company. Just not handling.

 

[Kyatesw]

But.... how long should I let them go hungry? Days?

Again, when they get hungry enough they'll. You should let them go hungry until they figure it out. A chicken isn't going to starve to death when it knows there is food.

 

[Lizzy733]

Hmmm..... wish I could see this. I'm having a hard time visualizing it.
I have RIRs, and do the one hand scoop, bring them to the chest. It's usually when I put them back down that I get scratched up. They kind of panic. They are all Friendly, and totally love company. Just not handling.

Mine are very mixed in how much handling they will tolerate, but I've also done some bird rescue work so am pretty familiar with birds that don't want to be handled.

My brooder babies have always been much more hands on than my broody babies and have bern trying to train all of them to be scooped and put in a football hold. Most are pretty good with it and one is an absolute lap chicken at the moment.

This is the closest I could find online for the kind of hold I'm talking about: