Chickens won’t eat feed

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with the others. For the time being, eliminate everything but the feed and after a week, you can start treating sparingly.

 

[Ms Clucky]

My chickens are like that too. They really like corn. I give them the stuff in a can that has no salt. They will eat their food but they follow me around first to see if I have any of the good stuff. They are really spoiled. That might be your problem with your chickens. Not that it's a problem. Can't help spoiling those cute little faces.

 

[Nofowlplay]

My chickens are like that too. They really like corn. I give them the stuff in a can that has no salt. They will eat their food but they follow me around first to see if I have any of the good stuff. They are really spoiled. That might be your problem with your chickens. Not that it's a problem. Can't help spoiling those cute little faces.

yes...they love the corn...and in cold temperatures it helps sustain them with quick energy.

 

[Ms Clucky]

They almost bite my hands off to get to it. Not really. They know when I have it, they can smell it through the bowl

 

[Nofowlplay]

They almost bite my hands off to get to it. Not really. They know when I have it, they can smell it through the bowl

When I have corn my girls be like this!

 

[Helen_Jayne]

I have exactly the same problem, my chickens actually wait by the window near our back door and when they see someone there they start making a racket demanding mealworms. When I open the door the silkie comes dashing in hoping to get there first. Some days I'm getting harassed for food not only by a ten year old and a dog but then also by the chickens. The chickens are actually hardest to ignore, I'm much stricter with the child and the dog for some reason, probably because I'm less experienced with chickens.
Basically I spoilt them and one of them has started to look a bit overweight so I have to sort it out. It's hard because it's very cold here, snowing today, one of them has just come into lay and when they ignore their mash I feel concerned they aren't eating enough. I need to be tougher!!
I found adding dried mixed herbs, chamomile, chickweed (all dried, it's winter) and cinnamon to the mash got them eating it.... for a day. But I think I'm going to start seriously reducing the treats now and ignoring them when they gang up on me.

 

[Nofowlplay]

I have exactly the same problem, my chickens actually wait by the window near our back door and when they see someone there they start making a racket demanding mealworms. When I open the door the silkie comes dashing in hoping to get there first. Some days I'm getting harassed for food not only by a ten year old and a dog but then also by the chickens. The chickens are actually hardest to ignore, I'm much stricter with the child and the dog for some reason, probably because I'm less experienced with chickens.
Basically I spoilt them and one of them has started to look a bit overweight so I have to sort it out. It's hard because it's very cold here, snowing today, one of them has just come into lay and when they ignore their mash I feel concerned they aren't eating enough. I need to be tougher!!
I found adding dried mixed herbs, chamomile, chickweed (all dried, it's winter) and cinnamon to the mash got them eating it.... for a day. But I think I'm going to start seriously reducing the treats now and ignoring them when they gang up on me.

I've stopped the corn for now and am reducing the BOSS and mealworms. Hope to see a bigger dent in the feed soon.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I guarantee they won't starve themselves to death. As creatures of habit, they'll hold out for a while if they think treats will be forthcoming.
Children won't eat their Brussells sprouts if they think Hershey bars and ice cream are coming.

If it were me, I'd eliminate everything but the feed. What is the mill date on the feed?
As long as it is fresh, that's all they need.
Most feeds I've seen have a statement printed on the guaranteed analysis tag to the effect, "Feed as the sole ration, no supplements are necessary".
Feed manufacturers do a really good job of packing every one of the 40 or so nutrients chickens are known to need, at the correct ratio. And it is in every bite. When you add other things, even a little, you are altering the perfect nutritional balance of a complete feed.

 

[Nofowlplay]

I guarantee they won't starve themselves to death. As creatures of habit, they'll hold out for a while if they think treats will be forthcoming.
Children won't eat their Brussells sprouts if they think Hershey bars and ice cream are coming.

If it were me, I'd eliminate everything but the feed. What is the mill date on the feed?
As long as it is fresh, that's all they need.
Most feeds I've seen have a statement printed on the guaranteed analysis tag to the effect, "Feed as the sole ration, no supplements are necessary".
Feed manufacturers do a really good job of packing every one of the 40 or so nutrients chickens are known to need, at the correct ratio. And it is in every bite. When you add other things, even a little, you are altering the perfect nutritional balance of a complete feed.

Getting ready to open a new bag of layer. The starter I am finishing up is from fairly new bags.

 

[nateboussad]

I bet your kids wouldn't eat their veggies if you gave them cake and ice cream first. stop feeding them the fresh food and let them get hungry.