Will they starve?

[duck55]

We've always used a container with a spring feeder for feeding our chickens. Our new flock don't seem interested in using it at all. After 8 weeks, and various attempts at teaching them, they still won't use it. They are still here so must be eating something. Would they really starve rather than use the feeder? Any suggestions how to get them to use it? I thought about attaching a small mirror to encourage pecking. Thanks in advance.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Im assuming a “spring feeder” must be one that stays closed until a bird steps on a platform or something? Sorry if I’m off on that lol.

If I’m correct, I would recommend weighing the platform down with a rock or something heavy so that they get used to eating from it. They will happen to step on the platform when they eat, and once you remove the weight and allow it to close again, they will instinctively step onto it to reach the food and therefore open it

 

[duck55]

Sorry, this is the type of feeder I was referring to.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Sorry, this is the type of feeder I was referring to.


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You’re sure they aren’t eating from it? If you have older birds who do then the young ones will pick up on their behavior. I never had to teach mine how to use nipple waterers because the big hens taught them for me.

 

[duck55]

The food level never goes down. We scatter some food underneath to encourage them to forage in the area but they don't seem to be catching on. All the birds are the same age and came to us at the same time.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Show them by pecking at it with your fingers. How old are your chickens?

 

[CHlCKEN]

Show them by pecking at it with your fingers.

This, they should catch on.

 

[Al Gerhart]

The food level never goes down. We scatter some food underneath to encourage them to forage in the area but they don't seem to be catching on. All the birds are the same age and came to us at the same time.

Major problem with this considering chicken psychology, when you scatter food for them they learn they cannot get food unless you are there.

Try painting the spring red or put red spots on it. Chickens love to peck at red stuff.

Kind of a weird design, can't be fun slamming your beak into a hard metal spring if it is designed to release feed like the paddle/bolt type feeders.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Im assuming a “spring feeder” must be one that stays closed until a bird steps on a platform or something? Sorry if I’m off on that lol.

If I’m correct, I would recommend weighing the platform down with a rock or something heavy so that they get used to eating from it. They will happen to step on the platform when they eat, and once you remove the weight and allow it to close again, they will instinctively step onto it to reach the food and therefore open it

Actually that is a terrible idea but I know some types of treadle feeders ask you to do this and you are just trying to help the OP. When you block open a feeder you start off teaching the hens that the treadle and door are not supposed to move when they eat.

Go cold turkey, show them how to use the feeder the right way from the start. You might use your toe to open the feeder so the birds see the treadle go down and the door move. Then after the hen gets a bite of food, gently push her off with your toe.

You have to associate movement of treadle and door with eating.

The block open method is a method taught by manufacturers of really poorly designed treadle feeders, generally those with guillotine style doors that open up instead of swinging back. They market the feeder with a method of training that lasts weeks so that people will run out the return policy time before giving up and returning the problem.

It also teaches the rodents and wild birds where the feed is. Then they either gang up on the treadle or just push the flimsy non spring loaded lid up to chow down.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Actually that is a terrible idea but I know some types of treadle feeders ask you to do this and you are just trying to help the OP. When you block open a feeder you start off teaching the hens that the treadle and door are not supposed to move when they eat.

What do you mean? This is how I always teach my birds to use it. Thats just how it works. It’s a completely functional and successful method to have them learn.