Feeding My Flock

[Kmccracken]

This is my first time raising chicks. We had adult hens before an they raised the chicks themselves. We let them forage for food an feed them so they would come roost. So my six chicks have gotten so big in the last few weeks. They do NOT want to eat crumbles when out in the chick tractor. They attack greens and go nuts for them. Also tried them on some finely chopped strawberris they love them. Gave them some shredded carrots, they ate a little an ignored the rest. They will eat there chick start n grow by purina but they don't like it anymore. Im think they need organic food they don't have much room right now to forage but these little birds want to get out an scratch an eat what they find. Think they need mealworms, seeds an grain. they have no problem trying new things now.

 

[Kmccracken]

I have also given them boiled eggs another thing they loved

 

[Folly's place]

It's best to have their primary balanced diet available all the time, and then the other goodies are treats, not more than maybe 10% of their daily diet.
Of course they'd rather have all those goodies!
Mary

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You can switch feed if you are so inclined but they’re a bit like kids in that they will choose cookies over healthy food so even though what you’re feeding isn’t candy per se you are feeding it often enough that they think they have a choice. I don’t give my pullets anything but starter until they’re able to range and even then it’s maybe once a week.

 

[nuthatched]

Provide constant access to their feed and stop all the treats. There's nothing wrong with them except they're spoiled.
Mealworms, seeds, grain, greens, fruit and vegetables are treats, and treats do not make a good diet that they will do well on.
Feed them their formulated feed and only give them a pinch of treats once or twice a week.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Seconding both all posts above me!

Some will say that animals know what's good for them. My birds will eat styrofoam and hardware, given the chance.

Sometimes you have to play hardball and lock them in with nothing but their crumble. Unless it's pest-riddled, damp, or otherwise compromised, they need to eat it for proper nutrition.

 

[Folly's place]

Styrofoam is the best! My birds think so too! Actually, any insulation, if available, must be yummy...
Mary

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Styrofoam is the best!

You mean popcorn? My chickens love a bit of popcorn…popcorn shaped like coolers, popcorn shaped like insulation…

 

[Perris]

This is my first time raising chicks. We had adult hens before an they raised the chicks themselves. We let them forage for food an feed them so they would come roost. So my six chicks have gotten so big in the last few weeks. They do NOT want to eat crumbles when out in the chick tractor. They attack greens and go nuts for them. Also tried them on some finely chopped strawberris they love them. Gave them some shredded carrots, they ate a little an ignored the rest. They will eat there chick start n grow by purina but they don't like it anymore. Im think they need organic food they don't have much room right now to forage but these little birds want to get out an scratch an eat what they find. Think they need mealworms, seeds an grain. they have no problem trying new things now.

Can you let them out to forage to find some of their own food?

On real food, aka 'treats': My birds get no ultra-processed bagged so-called complete chicken feed; the only thing I supply is real food, what some call 'treats': grains, seeds, live mealworms as you are suggesting, and other real foods. My birds are happy and healthy and fecund on it, from hatch till old age. For example, this one hatched in September last year and eats only 'treats' and what he finds in the garden and environs. Does he look malnourished to you?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Can you let them out to forage to find some of their own food?

On real food, aka 'treats': My birds get no ultra-processed bagged so-called complete chicken feed; the only thing I supply is real food, what some call 'treats': grains, seeds, live mealworms as you are suggesting, and other real foods. My birds are happy and healthy and fecund on it, from hatch till old age. For example, this one hatched in September last year and eats only 'treats' and what he finds in the garden and environs. Does he look malnourished to you?
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But you feed a very specific homemade feed that you have been careful to calculate nutrients in. Which is not the same as throwing them mealworms and vegetables randomly. I bet mine would prefer your homemade feed to the store bought stuff!

It sounds like these chickens are getting plenty of forage but mine do as well and still eat their dinner. I don’t leave food out all day—I give a scoop in the morning and a scoop before roost time.