Yeah, makes sense though when they're young they best eat their feed, when they grow up they'll act more like little kids and want only treats lol here's a video of how much my girls like cheese
When they were young I started them on the fluff part of bread as a treat yours should love meal...
How old are they? bc chickens die for meal worms usually, but are more hesitant of it when young,
Other treats my chickens crave would be real cheddar cheese, real mmozzerella, raisins (not too much makes their droppings sticky) oats, grapes.
I'm in the desert as well for your chickens to survive well they may also need at least frozen water bottles like old 2 liter bottles leave the cap off so it can drip cool water as it melts, also a lean to type shelter can help extremely mine hang out in their mansion, I also do the following...
So far just watermelon and feed, but I also have planned ice chips, cold grapes and then worms right before bed they go happier to bed that way and don't fight as much lol
I started this thread in response https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1166342/getting-ready-for-hot-summer-months
I thought it could help us I also stay away from cabbage and scratch for the heat
I give it daily they are eating machines I rotate so it's feed all day but no treats are given first thing or at night that's when they will gladly eat feed bc they are so hungry from sleeping or trying to fill up before bed
i see your from az, probably the only place right now that needs to worry about heat for the chickens how else do you keep your hens cool?
i'm here in the desert too and have all sorts of heat coping items but i'm always interested in what others might of come up with.
Today they got watermelon (we are in the 90 already here) ice chips, meal worms and oats before bed (it's keeps them fuller for nighttime and the nights are still cool)
Today they got oats plain Greek yogurt and meal worms their all time fave what they usually get are
Worms, raisins, grapes, bread, bucatini, cucumber, tomato, romaine, bell pepper (cabbage and corn when it's cold) carrots
For me we don't really eat meat I think my bubus don't like it either and...