[Geo]

I keep the feeders at the back of the run some 5metres away from the door. When the door is opened to let the hens into the garden the pigeons move in.
I now have to wedge  the door open using a house brick but the odd one still gets in.
Anyone else got this problem and have a solution

[Lmo25]

Hi, not sure if it helps but I was told to keep the feeder in the coop so it is out the rain and encourages them to lay inside. Good luck though 

[Geo]

The run has a roof so the food stays dry. I have read on forums not to put foodstuffs in the coop maybe joyful will advise. Thanks Lmo

[PaulineM]

Hi
You could try a treadle feeder, the girls learn to stand on a lever thing to open it up, pigeons probably wouldn't be able to do this 

[Geo]

Hi
You could try a treadle feeder, the girls learn to stand on a lever thing to open it up, pigeons probably wouldn't be able to do this 

HI PAULINE.
my hens are the messiest eaters out. there food ends getting tossed all over the place. There would still be food lying about for the pidgeons

[ManicMum]

I had a big problem of wild birds clearing out the feeder - not that I mind giving them a bit, but they were emptying the feeder & meant we used a bag of pellets in 10 days instead of a month!

We got a treadle feeder and have had no problems since - the girls learnt to use it very quickly and I worked out (using a box of cereal!) that the bird has to way 800g to work the treadle.  

I now don't have to put the feeder away each night as no vermin or wild birds are heavy enough to use it.  

[Geo]

Will have a look on web for treadle feeder. I need the to discourage the pidgeons, don't mind sparrows and robins getting a feed. The pidgeons eat more than the hens

[Tony H]

HI IM AFRAID THAT TREADLE FEEDERS MAY NOT WORK AS SAID CHUCKS ARE MESSY EATERS AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD FOR THE FLYING RATS    ALSO THEY CARRY SOOOOO many desises that can spread to chucks, if you dont worm your girls regulary you should do now as chcks will pich at pigion poo 

[bood77]

how about when you let out your chook you give them the food then just chuck it on the ground that way the chooks will eat it and the pigeons will not go in to you coop but you might have to stay there and scare any pigeones who try to eat the food off the ground

[joyfull]

A treadle feeder is probably your best bet and as it only releases a few pellets at a time then the hens will eat them. Either that or does your feeder have a scratch guard to prevent them getting their feet in them?
Food should not be in the coop - they should only use the coop to lay and sleep in.
Lmo25 to encourage them to lay inside place a dummy egg or two in the nest boxes - they like to lay where the others are laying as then they think their eggs stand a better chance of being hatched. If you don't have a dummy egg then a golf ball or two will suffice.

[Geo]

looked at the treadle feeder on internet, thought they were a bit pricey and they also said you could get a scratch guard to stop spillage. I am going to stick with the feeders I have and continue to discourage any pidgeons from entering the run. I now only leave the run door open enough to let the hens in and only the most determined pidgeons go in

[Tony H]

you could always trap the pigions in the run and kull them  As they are classed as vermin and carry numerus deseese its legal to do so as long as done humanly

[Geo]

Hi Tony
I Have been culling them but I would rather not. It distresses the hens when pidgeons are caught as they must think they are next

[grinling]

Could you get a supersoaker and a chair. Sit and wait, squirt. Should learn quickly.

[Tony H]

I know its hard and can be distresfull but realy for the good of your flock if all els fails culling is your only option  but i like the sound of the water thingy hopefully that will work