Help me spoil my flock (sad over death)

[MickWithChicks]

With the pecking/feather plucking issue, it can often be the hen herself who is plucking her feathers.

If you can get them a nice big tub (enough room to fit 3-4 chooks at a time), add some fine grade diatomaceous earth, some wood ash from your fireplace, a bit of dried lavender, some clean washed sand, and some good, fine, dusty dirt. Put the tub in the sun on dry days, and in a nice rain covered area on wet ones. The ladies will love bathing in that concoction, and it will help to prevent itching and plucking issues that mites, lice and fleas bring.

As for treats, watch out for anything too sugary. Cabbage or iceberg lettuce hung from a swinging rope can be a rewarding treat that they'll enjoy playing with.

 

[ClucksAndCombs]

Sorry for your loss. <3

Plain, unflavored yogurt is great. My chickens go nuts over it every morning. It contains so much good stuff, and it's cheap.

 

[aart]

— Feed: Currently feed non-organic pretty mediocre feed (Home Grown layer pellets). I want to switch to higher quality organic feed.

I believe this is 16% protein?

— Treats: they get lots of fresh greens and fruit, at least 4x a week, and occasional mealworms. We literally buy them extra greens at the grocery store, so I think they’re pretty happy there. Any extra special chicken treats, esp in heat of summer?

All these goodies may sound 'healthy' but they are diluting the nutrition of the feed, cut those 'treats' way back...and go buy yourself a treat to ease your pain. Don't think that the birds are feeling as bad as you are about the loss of a flock member, sorry for your loss, it just doesn't work that way.

 

[webbysmeme]

I am so sorry for your loss sweetheart. I am new to having chickens, so I can't imagine how you are feeling right now. I know that I have become very attached to my babies in the two short months that I've had them.
We had corn out of the freezer for dinner last night, I took a couple of frozen ears out to the babies. They loved it. They played with it until it thawed enough for them to eat it. Also, mine will almost knock me down for scrambled or boiled eggs. I know that is strange, I didn't like the idea of feeding them eggs when I first heard of it. But they do love them. Just be sure to chop them up very small. Then they won't know what they are eating. They'll just know momma got good new treats!
And, you tell the Mr. that he needs to tend to the cleaning of the coop until you have this baby! Congrats on that! When are you due? Take care. KH

 

[Tbjenkins2007]

Make them a giant ice cube with fruits and veggies frozen in it. Mine especially love squash, tomatoes and grapes.

Also, they love watermelon so buy them one and let them go to town.

I agree with putting scratch on the floor. We make our own out of spent grain, dried crickets and mealwoems, various seed, flax, red pepper flakes. We put it down there and they are scratching and tuning all day.

 

[emmyn74]

As far as treats...my chickens LOVe watermelon rinds after we cut up our watermelon...zucchini just cut in half long ways...black oil sunflower seeds...boiled eggs cut into slices...cucumbers..a really special treat that my daughter loves to give them is going to bait store and getting a bag of crickets for them to chase down and devour.