Chicks won't eat treats.

[G2Shooter]

I have been trying to get my chicks to eat treats of any kind. Mostly they are just scared of anything I put in there. I have tried scrambled eggs, yogurt mixed with there feed, and crunched up cherios. They finally ate the cherios after it was in there a couple days. This morning I ripped off some cilantro from a bunch in the fridge and put in the brooder. I didn't have time to wait and see if they would eat it, I guess if it's gone when I get home it meens they got brave and tried it.

 

[G2Shooter]

Well, cilantro dish was empty but it looked like it was just scattered around the brooder. I scrambled an egg last night and gave it to them but they just ignored it. It was still in the treat dish this morning. They are eating there chick starter like crazy. I only have four chicks in there and I have to fill the quart jar on the feeder everyday. Does that sound normal?

 

[G2Shooter]

Anybody? They are almost three weeks old now.

 

[Badlatitude]

My retards are 18 weeks and they mostly just scatter their treats all over the run and stomp them into the sand lol. They do however lllllllooooovvvvveeeeeeeee crickets! I dont know about your local store but the one here doesnt have them in a fishtank anymore. They are sold in little cardboard boxes and are by sizes so u could probably get some little ones for your birds to try.

They are called Box O bugs or something like that.

 

[kloptrix]

You could also try some mealworms and fish.

 

[G2Shooter]

Thanks, It is suppose to rain this weekend so I am going to look for some worms to try also.

 

[flockof4]

How old are they? They might be really into the chick starter because they need all the protein. Try the yogurt by itself and see if that works. Mine love cracked corn and sunflower seeds as well. Good luck.

 

[LindsayB]

We have big mosquito hawk flies (I don't really know what they're call but they are harmless flies with long legs) that are everywhere this time of year. My chicks don't really care about treats either so I went on the back porch last night and caught some of these bugs...they went crazy! If your not into catching little critters go to the pet store and buy some small mealworms. they will love you forever lol. and its a great protein source!

 

[2DogsFarm]

Maybe they are wary because they don't have a MamaHen to tell them what's safe to eat?

My girls were 9wks old when I got them and gave me the Stinkeye if I tried to feed them anything besides starter pellets.
Grass clippings were acceptable.
Once they warm up to you I bet they will be braver about trying odd food.

In my almost-a-year of chicken owning I have found out they are very routine-oriented.
Any change is met with suspicion if not outright hysteria.

When I had a light installed in their coop & had to relocate them to the garage for 1/2 a day, they held a grudge for about a week!
Nothing is as humbling to me as hearing chickens mutter under their breath to each other about YOU.

 

[kloptrix]

You could try imitating "mama-hen" and show them how to eat their treats. Please do post us a video as well.