Is This Strange?

[TallChickMagnet]

The last couple of day it has been realy hot (95+) around here so I started giving my birds the treat of watermellon and lettice. The thing is that they will only eat it if I'm watching them. I can put something out and walk away and they won't touch it.

Being new to raising chicken I still check on them every hour or so until the sun goes down, so I see there habits. I can sit in the coop with them and they eat the treats, so I see how much is there and how fast they eat. Everytime I leave, and come back the same amount is still there, then they notice me and start eating again. Is this strange?

 

[TallChickMagnet]

Any ideas?

 

[Renegade Rescue]

I have no idea but sounds like they have picked you as their alpha.

 

[Habibs Hens]

they have asosiated you as the top hen in the pecking order and wont eat without you

its the one thing that breeders like to avoid is too much human contact or they wont integrate with other chicken

you need to break the habit by only going out ther eto collect eggs or place food and water

if they leave the food dont stay walk away

they will get hungry and learn they must eat without you there

 

[aaabirdman]

Yep but you can still spend a little time with them. Not too much though

 

[TallChickMagnet]

That is so funny. I actualy have a plastic chair that I keep in there to sit and watch them, half the fun of having chickens...

I guess that I will have to change that...

Thanks for the info...

 

[gamechickens]

lol thats great! i never heard o a human being an apha you must spend allot of time with them. and agree about 90% of fun is watching the chickens.