Chickens Refusing to eat what is offered?

[Chicks4MyFamily]

We have four Barred Cochin hens and a roo! These are beautiful, fluffy, healthy birds. We received our first egg from them today - 23 weeks. They are refusing to eat the layer crumble that I am providing and only want to eat scratch. I know that scratch alone doesn't offer the nutrition that they need and I don't know what to do. Should I not offer scratch until they eat their layer crumbles?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Stop feeding the Scratch Feed they'll start eating the regular feed when they get hungry.

Chris

 

[HEChicken]

Quote:
x2. I only give scratch as a rare treat - once a week or so when I think of it and even then its only a handful thrown out for them to work on. They have access to free-range and a feeder full of feed 24/7 though and are able to eat as much as they need.

 

[jessicayarno]

I am one that only gives scratch as a treat once in a while also.. I would also say don't offer it and they will eat there food eventually..

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
Stop feeding the Scratch Feed they'll start eating the regular feed when they get hungry.

Chris

X-3.....

 

[anderson8505]

Yup!

Just as I'd prefer to eat chocolate and potato chips all day, chickens prefer snacks over real food. Lay off the scratch for a while, and mail me some potato chips. Salt & vinegar preferred.

 

[Cindy in PA]

My chickens have all day to eat their feed and get scratch everyday around 2 pm. They know when they will get scratch, but have chowed down since early morning on their good feed. I don't think you have to only offer once per week, you just have to offer it after they have eaten the good stuff.

 

[DinosRBirds]

mix a tiny bit of scratch with alot of layer

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Now this I wouldn't do; they are likely to pick out the scratch and leave the layer.

I don't even buy scratch any more; I don't want 25# or 50# of it and the small bags cost nearly as much as BOSS, so they get a handful or two of BOSS most days, for 13 chickens, at present. I also give them some sort of animal protein at least every few days since the feed around here has none and I don't trust that they get enough from bugs.