is there any way to help chickens to develop taste for bell peppers?

[CanadaEh]

Our chickens never eat or peck bell peppers and we are getting lots of them (both red and green) in discarded produce - they all become worm food. Bell peppers and root veg are about only things they won't touch. There are plenty of people at BYC who say their chickens love bell peppers. Is there a way to help chickens to develop taste for certain produce such as bell peppers?

 

[M-H-Fielding]

Our chickens never eat or peck bell peppers and we are getting lots of them (both red and green) in discarded produce - they all become worm food. Bell peppers and root veg are about only things they won't touch. There are plenty of people at BYC who say their chickens love bell peppers. Is there a way to help chickens to develop taste for certain produce such as bell peppers?

The way I'd do it is not to feed them until they eat the bell peppers, maybe cut the peppers open for them? Mine will eat anything, as long as it will fit in their mouth.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Mine enjoy the seeds most, but also eat the flesh. Maybe buzz one up in the food processor to see if they develop a taste for it?

 

[featherhead007]

blend some up, and add meally worms if you have any.

 

[CanadaEh]

thanks I will try to mince it with some food they like. The peppers were stepped on and crushed many times, their run is full of them

 

[WindingRoad]

thanks I will try to mince it with some food they like. The peppers were stepped on and crushed many times, their run is full of them

Can I ask why you want your chickens to eat peppers?

 

[kerbotx]

The flesh of the bell pepper is pretty tough, so I've found that only my birds that are - how shall I say... Really Good Peckers - are the only ones that will eat them whole. But more are interested if I dice them up!

 

[The Happster]

The way I'd do it is not to feed them until they eat the bell peppers.

What?


No, there isn't much you can do.
Forget the chickens, is there any neighbours, friends or family who will take some peppers off your hands?
Blending may work, but will probably be more effort than it's worth.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

What?


No, there isn't much you can do.
Forget the chickens, is there any neighbours, friends or family who will take some peppers off your hands?
Blending may work, but will probably be more effort than it's worth.

I didn't mean not feed them at all. My chickens are picky, but will eat anything if hungry enough. I only put out whatever they don't like until they eat it, then give them what they do want. They normally finish the stuff they don't like by noon, and then I can reward them with treats.

 

[K0k0shka]

I feed mine discarded peppers, root vegetables and other such produce that they can't normally manage to eat, by running it through the food processor first. It chops everything up small and they are better able to fit it in their mouths. If it fits, they eat it; if it doesn't, they often won't bother. I either dump the chopped pile in the run straight, or if it's too wet, I mix it with some feed crumbles to make a mash. They LOVE it that way! It's not too much work for me because I only have 5 chickens, and this is one of our rituals. I enjoy making it for them, and they enjoy eating it. My kids often get involved and do the preparation and the feeding themselves, too, and enjoy it themselves as well.