Chickens won't eat treats!

[hispoptart]

What is wrong with my Chicks? They are about 6 weeks old now and I have been trying to give them treats since they were about 3 weeks and they have no real interest in them. I have tried diced tomato, cucumber peels, grapes, strawberries, dried meal worms and celery. They will check it out, maybe peck at it and then walk away with their beaks turned up. My last chickens went nuts for treats, their favorite was frozen peas, but these ones seem to be treat snobs. What gives ?

 

[hispoptart]

??

 

[1245780trex]

Maybe they just aren’t hungry when you come to give them treats? I am sorry, I don’t really have an answer.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Remember everything is new in their world. Without an adult chicken to show them many refuse treats.

Personally I don't give treats until they are at least 12 weeks old. They need all the nutrition of the chick feed and I don't want to water that down with goodies.

 

[Jbum]

Mine are the same way until the Megladucks step in and scatter the meal worms around. Then they will peck at it or even grab a large piece and play catch me if you can. I will put them in a small container and peck with my finger and it seems to help but the Megladucks begin to take over anyway. Also good point @21hens-incharge makes.

 

[hispoptart]

Thanks, glad to know I don't need to go out and buy them caviar LOL. It just seemed like my last ones took the treats so easy, but that was 8 yrs ago and well lets face it old age is catching up with me . I'll just wait a few more weeks and try again. @21hens-incharge you are correct that they don't need the treats right now anyway.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Like 21hens-incharge, I don't offer treats till later.
I feed a Medicated Start & Grow for 10 weeks.
The Chick feed (Medicated or not) has a perfect balance of Vitamins, Minerals and Protein to support the Growth of a Chick.
And the Medicated feed has a minimal amount Amprolium to help prevent Coccidiosis. I don't want to dilute that.
So I don't offer treats till 10 weeks of age. GC

 

[Shezadandy]

If you still have other chickens, when they come together as a flock they'll figure it out real quick. Until then, I'd hold off until that 12-16 week mark. Mine never liked tomatoes or strawberries. Grapes, meal worms, pumpkin, apple, cherrios, watermelon, scratch - once they figured out it tasted good it was off to the races. Our broodies tell them right away what the good treats are. Though when it's a broody raising her chicks with the flock, they kinda eat what they eat, with Flock Raiser crumbles for all- my favorite is the first intro to watermelon on that first really hot day.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quit offering treats. They are just to make you feel good rather than provide optimal nutrition for the chicks.