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Feeding treats

post #1 of 12
6/28/12 at 7:59am
Thread Starter 

Curious question....I have 2 RSL hens about 4 months old. They get to roam my back yard for 3 hours in the morning and evening and sometimes in between. Very friendly, loving and content birds. I recently started them on Layena crumbles. I have offered them fruit, june bugs, meal worms, earth worms, nut treats for chickens, and yogurt. The only thing they barely peck at is an occasional noodle. Everything else they get upset and walk away. However they do like to peck at birdseed that has fallen out of the bird feeders. I have offered uncooked oatmeal which they seem to enjoy. But thats it. Does this mean they are nutritionally sound or is it their age? I want to spoil them and they wont let me..hit.gif.lol

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post #2 of 12
6/28/12 at 8:43am

I feel so bad for you< try giving them sunflower seeds and mealworms, you can buy them on some chicken websites

"What are the two things people tell you are healthiest to eat, chicken and fish, combine them and eat a penquin."

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"What are the two things people tell you are healthiest to eat, chicken and fish, combine them and eat a penquin."

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post #3 of 12
6/28/12 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 

Oh I have bought meal worms. They just look  and turn their beaks up at them. lol Im beginning to think giving treats are for our own egos...lol

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post #4 of 12
6/28/12 at 9:36am
  • Imp
  • All things share the same breath- Chief Seattle

Birds are often leery of new foods. Keep offering them new items. They will eventually get it.

 

Imp

 

 

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

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If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

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post #5 of 12
6/28/12 at 9:39am

I honestly don't understand the mealworm craze. They're expensive. They're unnecessary for chicken health. Too many will upset the ratio of protein in the feed and your hens will have kidney failure. There are so many other ways to indulge your hens in a healthy and inexpensive way. I have a compost pile in the chicken pen which is always filled with good bugs - that the hens have to exercise and dig for.

http://hencam.com/compost-in-the-chicken-run/

I have a FAQ about feeding here:

http://hencam.com/faq/what-to-feed-your-chickens/

I'm sure that if you toss a red tomato in the run, or half a cantaloupe, your hens will dance with joy :)

Terry Golson

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Terry Golson

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post #6 of 12
6/28/12 at 12:03pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks Terry for the information! My instincts pretty much lead me with all my animals.  I just think its funny I read all over the place  the things people feed their birds and mine show very little interest. Which I figured if they wanted it or needed it, they would eat it. They  love to forage around the yard and especially love my vintage wheel barrel filled with strawberry plants. They only go in  to scratch around or give themselves dirt baths....really cute too.lau.gif

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post #7 of 12
6/28/12 at 12:07pm

Some hens like certain treats and others will just eat anything lol. I have 4 gold sex links that will only eat bread as a treat. But my RIR will eat anything I set out for them... fruits, noodles, veggies but not the sex link. . . so maybe you just havent really found what they like?

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post #8 of 12
6/29/12 at 7:39am

I have nine Salmon Faverolles, three months old.  I feed them a lot of different treats and find they turn their beaks up to some and can't get enough of others.  They love mealworms, cooked rice and watermelon the most, but I continue to offer cabbage, kale, cantelope etc.  I think they are just young and will eventually eat what's offered.  This is my first go at chickens and I just love them!!  Good luck!

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post #9 of 12
6/30/12 at 5:47am

Yesterday during brunch they received cooled off peaches and for dinner received corn on the cob as a snack. :) I did feed them straw berries inbetween :)

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post #10 of 12
6/30/12 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 

Are they not best? I'm new this year too. I only have 2 though, kinda thinking I should have gotten more. If I knew I would love them this much, I would have gotten chickens a long time ago. I know some just think of them as "being just chickens" but actually they are not a whole different than other birds. What impresses me most is they don't get all frazzled up when the grand kids, dogs, and cat go around them. Or even a new person they have never seen. When they were younger, they seemed to like cantaloupe and earth worms but now that they are older, they seem to turn everything I offer them away. I'm thinking its because of their age....like picky teenagers...lol. My vet which has tons of chickens told me yesterday that they actually are nutritionally sound between their crumbles and foraging around so not to worry, when they want something more they will eat  my goodies.. I started the compost pile like someone suggested for them to go through. I thought that was a brillant idea for both me and the chickens. Good luck with all your babies! thumbsup.gif

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