A few things...

[Red1984]

Hi

Very new to chickens but I rehomed 8 ex batts on Saturday. I'm keen to encourage feather growth and obviously strengthen their overall health. They don't seem keen to eat anything green or their own eggs. We don't eat eggs so there is plenty for them.

. Ive already lost one as she had a nasty break and dislocation. There is a lot of bullying in the flock any advice on how to combat that would be great !

Many thanks in advance

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your new hens have probably not eaten anything but a layer ration. I would give them time to settle in before adding extra stuff to their diet. After they feel more comfortable they will probably try new things.

Unless you can say all your hens came out of the same cage they are probably all strangers to each other so some fighting for a pecking order is expected. I'm sure they are very stressed and confused as well and don't understand they are about to have a better life.

They will probably look ratty until the yearly molt which is coming up for us in the northern hemisphere.

Just give them time, make all changes slowly, don't crowd them, remove any who are too aggressive for some time out in a separate pen next to the coop, and hopefully everyone settles down soon and they start behaving a bit more normal.

 

[Red1984]

That's brilliant thank you so much x

Your new hens have probably not eaten anything but a layer ration. I would give them time to settle in before adding extra stuff to their diet. After they feel more comfortable they will probably try new things.

Unless you can say all your hens came out of the same cage they are probably all strangers to each other so some fighting for a pecking order is expected. I'm sure they are very stressed and confused as well and don't understand they are about to have a better life.

They will probably look ratty until the yearly molt which is coming up for us in the northern hemisphere.

Just give them time, make all changes slowly, don't crowd them, remove any who are too aggressive for some time out in a separate pen next to the coop, and hopefully everyone settles down soon and they start behaving a bit more normal.

 

[NotSoChickenLove]

My chickens weren't battery chickens but they didn't know any other food than pellets. I had to teach them what other food was. I chopped up things very small, the size of pellets and mixed into their food, just a little at a time. After a while they'd hiff the pellets out of the feeder looking for the other bits. Then I tried bigger bits that they would have to break down, and eventually the whole leaves, fruits or cobs. Just try one thing at a time, maybe something green, and then you'll learn their favourites also.

 

[lazy gardener]

You can put them on a higher protein multi flock pellet. Be sure to offer oyster shell or egg shell on the side.

 

[Red1984]

Yes in hindsight the huge chunks of broccoli may have looked more like weapons than food thank you!

My chickens weren't battery chickens but they didn't know any other food than pellets. I had to teach them what other food was. I chopped up things very small, the size of pellets and mixed into their food, just a little at a time. After a while they'd hiff the pellets out of the feeder looking for the other bits. Then I tried bigger bits that they would have to break down, and eventually the whole leaves, fruits or cobs. Just try one thing at a time, maybe something green, and then you'll learn their favourites also.

 

[Red1984]

You can put them on a higher protein multi flock pellet. Be sure to offer oyster shell or egg shell on the side.

Thank you they are having egg shells with their own eggs I'll check the protein content
Many thanks