It’s a feeder! Eat the feed!

[EarthToWitness]

I don’t think they’re getting it. Can I teach them to use this? I assumed it would be a no brainer. The feeder I originally wanted is on back order. Of course.

 

[Zinjifrah]

It's more fun to dig the food out and peck it up off the floor, though! Personally, I find that if get the food just a little bit moist, they like it better and don't dig it out as much. I also tap my finger on the food, and mine seem to equate that as 'something good! Peck here!', so they all run over to sample whatever I'm tapping at.

 

[EarthToWitness]

It's more fun to dig the food out and peck it up off the floor, though! Personally, I find that if get the food just a little bit moist, they like it better and don't dig it out as much. I also tap my finger on the food, and mine seem to equate that as 'something good! Peck here!', so they all run over to sample whatever I'm tapping at.

Thanks, ya. I did a good tap and I actually had the bright idea to A) open it, let them figure out there’s food in here, close it again. That seemed to spark some interest. And B) I took a small scoop and filled the feeder to the brim by just pouring more on top once it was in there for all to see. They found that very intriguing too. Silly birdies.

 

[EarthToWitness]

Hats off to you. I wet their feed just now and they are going wild!!

 

[Zinjifrah]

Hats off to you. I wet their feed just now and they are going wild!!

Awesome! I frequently mix a little plain yogurt with water to make a soup, then stir chick feed into that until it's crumbly instead of clumpy - mine absolutely love it.

 

[EarthToWitness]

Omg perfect. I just bought plain probiotic yogurt and wasn’t sure how to go about it What age do you start treating them to things like that? Or say an egg?

 

[Zinjifrah]

Omg perfect. I just bought plain probiotic yogurt and wasn’t sure how to go about it What age do you start treating them to things like that? Or say an egg?

Mine are all babies. My three-week-old Sebrights arrived very stressed as day-old hatchery chicks, and I lost two of them before it was suggested that I mix yogurt and the yolk from hard-boiled egg into their food... it worked perfectly, and the remaining four are doing great. So when my four Serama chicks hatched, I started them right off with both in their food. They loved it, they stuffed themselves, and they're vigorously healthy. The probiotics in the yogurt are supposed to be good for their guts, and the yolk is a protein boost. I stopped adding the yolk after a couple days, when I figured they didn't need it anymore, but I still add a little yogurt and moisten their food. It saves on mess, they like it better, and it's not really any trouble to do. I haven't heard of any negatives yet!

 

[EarthToWitness]

So great. And I’m sorry for your loss. I would have been devastated. My 10 are 3 weeks old too . 6 leghorn and 4 Rhode Island’s. I think I almost lost 1 of mine to dehydration. I woke at 2am by chance to her getting pecked by everyone. She made a full recovery almost overnight. But what a joy to have them and even to stress over them- I’ve been putting in countless hours doing everything I can think of to make them happy and healthy. It is NOT easy keeping chicks and it is A LOT of work!!! These are my first cheeps and I think today is the first day I can really sit back, take it all in, and be proud of my mothering. All that hard work and vigilance has really paid off. I’m so proud of my babies!!

 

[Zinjifrah]

So great. And I’m sorry for your loss. I would have been devastated. My 10 are 3 weeks old too . 6 leghorn and 4 Rhode Island’s. I think I almost lost 1 of mine to dehydration. I woke at 2am by chance to her getting pecked by everyone. She made a full recovery almost overnight. But what a joy to have them and even to stress over them- I’ve been putting in countless hours doing everything I can think of to make them happy and healthy. It is NOT easy keeping chicks and it is A LOT of work!!! These are my first cheeps and I think today is the first day I can really sit back, take it all in, and be proud of my mothering. All that hard work and vigilance has really paid off. I’m so proud of my babies!!

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They are indeed very rewarding - especially when you reach in and everyone runs to your hand to fight over who gets to sit on it and get picked up. Heh! Congratulations on your sleep deprivers!

 

[The Phantom]