Scary hens

OK. so I took the cockerel away.  Now the 2 hens left are really scared.  They were scared before, but are  neurotic now.  I put a new spring feeder in and scattered all sorts of lovely treats underneath, I have been in to show them how it works and they seemed interested.  BUT all they do is avoid it.  They grab a treat and retreat, avoiding the feeding spring.  I want to perservere with this, as it seems the best way for me to provide food without wasting any.  Its been two days and it is still frightening them.  Do I let them go hungry or should I throw food in occasionally?  I have tried meal worms, pellets, sweetcorn out of a can, wheat. And nothing can make them un-scared.  I talk to them all the time, I pick them up a couple of times a week but they are so scared now it is stressful for them.  They weren't too bad before.  Any one have any input?
HELP...
 

I have feeders like that but not scaredy hens.  I just used my fingers to peck at the spring so it released some food.  Then left them to eat the food.  I repeated this a few times and they soon got the hang of it.  They will need to see that it is a feeder and hopefully they will overcome their fear.  Good luck.  

Hens are always scared  of anything new or unusual , my low tech feeder which is a saucepan on 3 legs is fine but if a clumsy hen upends it (not easy) it becomes a scary monster !

The auto door was scary, now they limbo under it when it is open 4".

Don`t worry they will not starve, the hungrier they get the braver they will become.

Don't put corn in the spring! I thought that this would be a great idea to encourage them to use it. The result was that they ate the corn then shook the spring trying to find more corn; great pile of pellets on ground. Not quite the desired effect.