Hmm. If your hens won't eat layer feed I have to wonder, are they laying? Maybe it's the calcium they're rejecting because their bodies don't need it. I would switch to an all-flock formula and offer oyster shell in a side dish.
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2 out of 3 are laying (3rd is coming up soon!), but my Golden Comet eats an unnatural amount of oyster shell. I assumed layer feed would help her with calcium levels. They all LOVE the Dumor Organic Layer, but flat-out refuse every other brand. It's kind of a head scratcher.Hmm. If your hens won't eat layer feed I have to wonder, are they laying? Maybe it's the calcium they're rejecting because their bodies don't need it. I would switch to an all-flock formula and offer oyster shell in a side dish.
Okay, well it's a head-scratcher then! The only other suggestion I have is to cut out everything else except what you want them to eat. No scratch, no veggies. If they're hungry they will eat. You know that any extras - the veggies, the scratch - that's like cake and ice cream to a kid. If they fill up on that stuff, there's no room in their bellies for meat and potatoes - the balanced nutrition of their commercial feed. Right? Those snacks should make up no more than 10% of their overall diet, which is going to be just a couple tablespoons a day, per hen.2 out of 3 are laying (3rd is coming up soon!), but my Golden Comet eats an unnatural amount of oyster shell. I assumed layer feed would help her with calcium levels. They all LOVE the Dumor Organic Layer, but flat-out refuse every other brand. It's kind of a head scratcher.
I do provide all-flock pellets in their treat toys, and that's always a hit!
Right now, they're grounded with no treats for at least a week. But normally I do limit them, exactly as you said (even have my handy 3/8 cup for 3 birds!)Okay, well it's a head-scratcher then! The only other suggestion I have is to cut out everything else except what you want them to eat. No scratch, no veggies. If they're hungry they will eat. You know that any extras - the veggies, the scratch - that's like cake and ice cream to a kid. If they fill up on that stuff, there's no room in their bellies for meat and potatoes - the balanced nutrition of their commercial feed. Right? Those snacks should make up no more than 10% of their overall diet, which is going to be just a couple tablespoons a day, per hen.
Of course! How silly of me. Unfortunately, I won't be able to dispense any treats when I'm in the hospital because their cecal-crusted nails scratched my cornea!I don't think it's a tantrum, just trying to remind you in case you forgot ... HELLO, TIME TO GIVE YOUR CHICKENS THEIR SNACKS!
To be fair, I hate apple peels too!My birds don't eat apple peel, but they get all excited when they see the favorite foods