Chicks lost interest in treats :/

[Faithel]

I'm new to keeping chickens and started feeding my gals meal worms after seeing a helpful post/chart on chicken treats here at byc.
( 5 EE's, going on 6 weeks old) They were immediately obsessed with them! And then randomly, one of them lost interest. And within the next few days they all did. I tried switching back to scrambled eggs and no interest in that either. *They still eat plenty of their regular food and seem perfectly healthy.
I was using treats in attempt to train them to come when called, for their safety mostly incase they escaped the yard or something. (of course I'm not having much luck with that now.) 4 out of the 5 are very friendly, they seem to enjoy being held and will even fall asleep in my hand while being petted. One is a total spaz though, so I'm especially worried about her not coming when called...
Anyone have any ideas or had this happen before? Thanks so much!

 

[birdsrfun]

As long as they’re eating and drinking fine, I wouldn’t worry. They’re really starting to grow now and need the nutrition from their food.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They probably just got bored of them. Chickens are weird like that.

You could try some other treats and see if they like something else. Sometimes they’re picky too.

But too many treats isn’t good either. Please keep in mind that treats should make up no more than 10% of the diet. I don’t really give mine any anymore though I used to. Now they mostly just free range.

I’m sure they find lots of treats doing that but I don’t really go out of my way to give them.

Anyway, be careful about giving too many treats, but you can try to find something else they like if you want.

 

[birdsrfun]

I’m sure they find lots of treats doing that but I don’t really go out of my way to give them.

Cheaper that way too. We give treats, and it adds quite a bit to the bill.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Cheaper that way too. We give treats, and it adds quite a bit to the bill.

Very true!! Haha and I bet!!! Cut back most of my “treats” are vegetable or fruit scraps haha

 

[Faithel]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I’ve backed off for few days and then tried again with no luck. They were only getting treats once or twice a day to “practice” coming when called- maybe one or two meal worms per bird? they will eat other things just not from my hand, lol. (They don’t seem afraid of my hand just stare at me and look blank/cofused). Guess I may just need to become an expert chicken wrangler, if the need ever arises

 

[2Old2Crow]

Chop up 2 cherries and put them in the palm of your hand. The little piranhas go nuts. Just not too many to avoid diarrhea and proper protein intake.

 

[Faithel]

Chop up 2 cherries and put them in the palm of your hand. The little piranhas go nuts. Just not too many to avoid diarrhea and proper protein intake.

Thanks for the idea! I gave it a go, Two of them were interested for a little bit but not enough to even finish the tiny amount in the palm of my hand. Which is still better then scrambled eggs or the meal worms. such picky girls... they still enthusiastically LOVE their chick starter though. Kinda reminds me of little kids only wanting Mac N’ cheese And turkey sandwiches? Lol

 

[Madvalleychick]

Mine will run over to a hand full of regular chicken feed - and ignore a treat.... they’re funny like that.

 

[Faithel]

Mine will run over to a hand full of regular chicken feed - and ignore a treat.... they’re funny like that.

Thanks for sharing that, glad I’m not alone here lol