How does your hen say "I don't like that?"

[Kalthia]

We are struggling with one hen. She can't walk - her left leg is just not working for her - and the vet thinks it is calcium deficiency - so we are trying hard to get her to take in some calcium. She told us to give her tums - GREAT, I have those, easy peasy! She said you can put it in cottage cheese, spaghetti, .. what ever she will eat.
I did use spaghetti yesterday day and my hen seemed? to hate it, as soon as she got a strand in her mouth she shook her head really hard, flinging sticky noodles everywhere, and wiped her beak several times...
I am new to this but I thought it was pretty clear she did not like spaghetti -

How does your hen express dislike of a food? And what is your hens favorite?

 

[Callender Girl]

When mine dislike something edible -- which is extremely rare -- they simply walk away. Then, the ducks swoop in and scarf it up!!

All my poultry, including the geese, LOVE grapes. I've been giving one of my Buckeye hens calcium citrate (generic tablets from Target) because her egg shells have become paper thin. I use a mortar and pestle to grind the tablet, then I cut grapes in half and dip them in the powdered calcium.

Good luck with finding what works for your girl!

 

[southwestclucker]

ha ha, mine do the aggressive beak-wiping too!

 

[maryn7]

The offended beak wipe is so funny. Followed by a hard look and tail turn to walk away.

You might have better luck simply getting some calcium citrate pills (here's what the bottle looks like) and popping it in her beak. (This should also work if you split the tums in half.)

There are lots of threads here about pilling chickens; mine handle it no problem. And then you're sure of the dosage they're getting.

 

[SierraView]

Boiled egg yolks.. Never had any turn a beak to them

 

[texsuze]

Use a mortar and pestle, grind up your TUMS or appropriate calcium source, and using a small bowl or cup, mix a small amount with baby food that comes in a jar. Don't put all the calcium in at once; do it in portions. I'd use only veggie or fruit baby food--skip the stuff with meats or gravy products.

Another option is to make scrambled eggs, dust with the calcium (not all at once) and give to your hen.

 

[Chicken poppy]

We are struggling with one hen. She can't walk - her left leg is just not working for her - and the vet thinks it is calcium deficiency - so we are trying hard to get her to take in some calcium. She told us to give her tums - GREAT, I have those, easy peasy! She said you can put it in cottage cheese, spaghetti, .. what ever she will eat.
I did use spaghetti yesterday day and my hen seemed? to hate it, as soon as she got a strand in her mouth she shook her head really hard, flinging sticky noodles everywhere, and wiped her beak several times...
I am new to this but I thought it was pretty clear she did not like spaghetti -

How does your hen express dislike of a food? And what is your hens favorite?

Ok. Think of a chicken like a human when it comes to food. You have one that LOVES food, eats everything, human food, bugs, rodents, all of it! Then another that hates human food, hates slimey food, picky about bugs, never eats rodents.

Lots are like this and its not only one or the other, it can be inbetween. Take my easter egger for example. She is utterly disgusted by grubs, alive meal worms, sometimes worms and never touches slugs ever. I feel bad for her too because she tries so hard to find the enjoyment in it, almost forcing herself to down it because the others like it. But she shakes her head, spits it out, and you can tell she really hates it. She dislikes things wiggly and she might look rough and tough but if she sees a mouse she will squeal. My sex link on the other hand would eat everything.