help, chickens are ceasing to eat 'chicken feed'

[eeiko321]

actually guys

has anyone experienced this before?

i think i was giving way too much treats to the chickens...

twice a day i wss either giving them corn, lettuce, cucumber or tomatoes.

so i guess they were always eager to wait for it.


but yeah as i mentioned, they have COMPLETELY stopped eating feed.

yesterday i tested it out...by not giving them feed at all........and as i guessed.....
they actually did starve themselves.
this morning thr feed was not touched at all.....


any suggestions? is it a matter of time till they do?
should i add something in the feed to make it more exciting for them?

 

[eeiko321]

actually guys

has anyone experienced this before?

i think i was giving way too much treats to the chickens...

twice a day i wss either giving them corn, lettuce, cucumber or tomatoes.

so i guess they were always eager to wait for it.


but yeah as i mentioned, they have COMPLETELY stopped eating feed.

yesterday i tested it out...by not giving them feed at all........and as i guessed.....
they actually did starve themselves.
this morning thr feed was not touched at all.....


any suggestions? is it a matter of time till they do?
should i add something in the feed to make it more exciting for them?

 

[lorihadams]

Okay, I spoil my chickens...treats every morning...so sometimes I trick them and put their layer feed in a bowl with some warm water until it turns to mush and they freak out and devour it. You may want to try tricking them! Sprinkle some of their favorite treat or scratch on top of the layer feed and that will usually get it going.

Lori

 

[digitS']

Along the same lines, "How much in the way of treats would be too much?"

Awhile back, I decided that I'd like to try to come up with an answer. I worked it out on the basis of considering scratch as a treat, what the best thoughts on feeding scratch are, and what would be an alternative treat to scratch.

Also, I worked it out the crude protein content and trying to keep an adequate amount of protein in their diet for egg production. Most treats are considerably lower protein than commercial chickenfeed.

Kitchen scraps, fruits and vegetables - most of these things run about 90% water whereas grain and chicken feed is down closer to 10%. Even tho' it adds to the content, water doesn't really count.

The best advice I found was that in general, scratch should account for no more than 12% to 15% of a laying hen's diet. So, that would amount to a little less than 2 tablespoons per bird.

Kitchen scraps at either about 12% to 15% of the diet or maintaining high enough protein levels using the 20% protein feed I buy both worked out to about the same - - 3/4 cup per bird of reasonably healthy "stuff" from the kitchen or garden.

Steve

 

[eeiko321]

Quote:
thats a really good idea actually

beause apparently chickens have taste buds also, and chicken feed in fact doesnt taste good to chickens ive been told?

so making it all mushed up & soggy...mixing with thier treat...they might think its something else

ill try it and keep u guys posted

thanks for that and thanks to all thAt have posted to this thread also, i owe ya one...