Chicks don't like red fruit?

[mrkep]

Our 24 - 2 week old Buckeyes have been introduced to some treats. Any worms are wonderful, cause quite a chicken riot! We gave them swatted flies, same result. So after picking raspberries, we thought they would like that, totally no interest. One finally pecked once and walked away. Today I tried some little pieces of watermelon, rind still attached, again, no interest. They almost acted afraid of the melon. Have I read on here something about chickens can't see red? They seem to recognize the red feeders and waterers. When they get out in the yard, I am counting on them to clean off the berry bushes and eat other yard/ kitchen waste.
Mrkep

 

[TipsyDog]

I found that my chickens don't like anything "new" or different. They are like children and you have to introduce new foods several times before they really decide if they like it or not. Your chicks are very young for different types of treats! Please be sure they have grit available or they can get into trouble eating too many new foods. I'd wait till they were a little older for various treats. At that age I gave mine wet crumbles and a little yogurt mixed in. That was the extent of their treats. Good luck with your little ones!

 

[Imp]

Birds are funny about new foods. Sometimes it takes a while. Keep trying. Mine liked red at first, but were afraid of orange.

Imp-

 

[Mak]

My four week olds are not crazy about raspberries, but love strawberries. I'll keep offering raspberries as long as the bushes produce them. Well, the ones I don't collect for us, anyway!

And see how they do. They do seem to be shy about some things at first, but decide they like it after a few tries.

 

[Peppermint]

The first time I put a raspberry in the brooder, they all huddled in the farthest corner terrified. The second time a few days later they played keep-away with it and loved it.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Glad my lot weren't the only ones!
It took 3 weeks and several red foods to get them to like it. The clincher was a red apple! Since then, watermelon, strawberries and other red foods, beware!!!
No worries, they will realize red foods taste fantastic, and will overcome their fear of new things.

Bright Blessings

 

[The Tinman]

You will see that Chicks are like children, Some like this others like that. Mine love watermellon,tomato,strawberries,Hate lettuce,most of them like yogurt but some just turn up there beeks and walk away. Just keep trying differant thing.

 

[HappyTalons]

Chickens can definitely see red. Being birds they can probably see color better than we can. I notice my flock is immediately attracted to anything red or brightly colored. Flowers, dead leaves, my tomatoes . . . etc. I've had really mixed results with fruit. A lot of times they just don't like it . . .but dried cranberries? They're crazy for em. And they can easily pick them right out of the grass.

 

[Mervin]

Chickens can definitely see red. Wait until one of them gets pecked and bleeds a little. You'll understand all too well that they see red.

As far as treats go, mine were terrified of just about everything at first. When they were 5-6 weeks, they really caught on though. They might turn there noses up to new stuff at first, but within a couple of hours it would be gone. The second time I fed them a particular item, they'd take right to it. Now, at 10-11 weeks they act like I'm their pusher. As soon as the backdoor opens they're out to greet me and get whatever "fix" I've got for them. Mulberries were a huge hit. They absolutely go bonkers for them. Lamb trimmings caused a big stir as well. And, while I know it's creepy, they love chicken.

When they first started taking treats, clovers picked from the yard seemed to work well also. They seemed to dig the more leafy, tender, succulent stuff in the grass. I'd also throw in tender dandelion leaves too, but they always preferred the clovers. I'd make sure they had grit and start them with an easy treats like broad-leaf stuff from the yard.