I love watching my chickens eat!

[bluegiantsc]

Because my chickens don't have a feeder (they don't like them) I have to feed them by hand several times a day. I love to watch them eat! hahahaha.
I sometimes stand out there for 10 minutes or more watching them eat their pellets and treats.
Today I fed them some pellets, hard boiled eggs, grapes, and a homemade flock block. The hen stepped on the flock block and didn't realize it was the good stuff, then she looked at what she stepped on. She went nuts for the block! My son and I go out in the evenings to feed them, thats the closest he gets to them because hes only 15 months old. He likes to watch them eat too! I love the noises they make while they eat, its so funny!

I was just wondering if I was the only weirdo who loves to watch them eat?!

 

[Wynette]

I don't find it weird at all! It's also a good way to get pics of them - while they're busy eating!

But - I sure wouldn't say your chickens "don't like" feeders. they likely are just not used to them. It's a good idea to get them trained to them, because when you feed on the ground, rodents can get to the feed...it's good not not "encourage" the rodents any more than you absolutely need to. You don't want disease brought in, and surely you don't want to feed something that doesn't give you breakfast in return!

 

[bluegiantsc]

I don't find it weird at all! It's also a good way to get pics of them - while they're busy eating!

But - I sure wouldn't say your chickens "don't like" feeders. they likely are just not used to them. It's a good idea to get them trained to them, because when you feed on the ground, rodents can get to the feed...it's good not not "encourage" the rodents any more than you absolutely need to. You don't want disease brought in, and surely you don't want to feed something that doesn't give you breakfast in return!

I've tried different types of feeders, but they tend to waste more feed with the feeders. I only feed them what they can eat in a 10 minute span and I feed them that several times a day. I only have 2 chickens so its not a big deal for me to feed them like that during the day. There usually isn't any feed left over at the end of the day, if there is, its only a few pellets and I usually rake it out of the run and put whatever I rake out in the compost pile. I also let them forage in the evenings so they get all the food and nutrients they need. I get one egg a day, everyday. I can understand the concern for rodents, but I've never seen anything out by their run. Not to say there aren't mice. They just don't like when the food sits there, they like it thrown fresh to them! hahaha They're picky spoiled chickens!