Feeding Frenzy

[Leenidia]

Good evening. I think I created a monster. I started feeding noodles, feeding hay, grass, worms, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit, worms and corn twice a day - in addition to my girls feed. I noticed today that they’re not so interested in their feed anymore. What should I do? I don’t want them to go hungry. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Good evening. I think I created a monster. I started feeding noodles, feeding hay, grass, worms, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit, worms and corn twice a day - in addition to my girls feed. I noticed today that they’re not so interested in their feed anymore. What should I do? I don’t want them to go hungry. Thanks in advance.

Stop giving them treats. Or put some treats on the normal food and gradually give less and less treats

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you had a buffet of your favorite snacks and desserts, would you still want dinner after? Same with chickens... treats are much tastier than nutritionally balanced feed, so they'll gorge on the treats and not want their meal after.

Simple solution is to cut back on the treats and keep it restricted. They'll go back to their feed.

 

[Leenidia]

If you had a buffet of your favorite snacks and desserts, would you still want dinner after? Same with chickens... treats are much tastier than nutritionally balanced feed, so they'll gorge on the treats and not want their meal after.

Simple solution is to cut back on the treats and keep it restricted. They'll go back to their feed.

I didn’t view it that way. That makes sense. What is the appropriate amount I should give them. When you say @cur back” can you provide an example?? Thanks for your time.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I think she means cut back on don't give them a smorgasboard of treats... Only give them well... a treat!! Maybe feed them noodles as a treat one day, and the other the next, etc. Not all at once!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

The usual recommendation on here is that treats shouldn't exceed 10% of their daily intake. Let's say an average hen eats 1/4 lb (4 oz) of food a day, so that's 0.4 oz of treats a day. Obviously you don't have to sit there and weight tiny portions. I'd say about 1 Tbsp a day per adult hen is fine. If I have some good scraps on hand they get a little more for a day or two, some other days they get less, so it balances out.

 

[Leenidia]

I think she means cut back on don't give them a smorgasboard of treats... Only give them well... a treat!! Maybe feed them noodles as a treat one day, and the other the next, etc. Not all at once!!

Thanks. Learning curves are both exciting and confusing. I’ll het it right. Thanks!

 

[Leenidia]

The usual recommendation on here is that treats shouldn't exceed 10% of their daily intake. Let's say an average hen eats 1/4 lb (4 oz) of food a day, so that's 0.4 oz of treats a day. Obviously you don't have to sit there and weight tiny portions. I'd say about 1 Tbsp a day per adult hen is fine. If I have some good scraps on hand they get a little more for a day or two, some other days they get less, so it balances out.

That makes sense. They’re chicks yet, 4 are 5 weeks and the other 6 girls are 9 weeks.

 

[faylinnc]

Good evening. I think I created a monster. I started feeding noodles, feeding hay, grass, worms, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit, worms and corn twice a day - in addition to my girls feed. I noticed today that they’re not so interested in their feed anymore. What should I do? I don’t want them to go hungry. Thanks in advance.

I would recommend cutting back on the treats. Supply them mainly with the healthy nutrience filled feed that they used to get. They'll have no choice but to eat that. Of course, you can give them treats sometimes, but not a lot. Good luck!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Thanks. Learning curves are both exciting and confusing. I’ll het it right. Thanks!

It is.. It's hard when you see them scrambling all around for the treats and it's so much fun to watch! But it's best for them to not get them so used to getting a bunch of treats at once!!