Meal worm weirdos

[Thancock760]

Soooo…. My girls don’t seem interested in mealworms! I bought a big old bag. Should I wait for some time and try again later? They are six weeks

 

[topochico225]

Soooo…. My girls don’t seem interested in mealworms! I bought a big old bag. Should I wait for some time and try again later? They are six weeks

My pullets don't really like treats either! They're 16 weeks. I guess it boils down to what tastes good to that chicken. I have 2 hens that LOVE dried crickets, and one that won't touch them.

 

[NatJ]

Sometimes chicks need a while to decide that something tastes good.

You could put in one or two mealworms, once or twice a day, and just leave them there. That will give the chicks a chance to look, think, and try them. At some point, you will probably see the chicks come running because they have learned that mealworms are tasty.

(Your chickens can certainly be healthy without mealworms, but since you already have the worms, that's probably the easiest way to get the chickens used to eating them. Once a single chick decides they taste good, the others will learn from that example.)

 

[Thancock760]

My pullets don't really like treats either! They're 16 weeks. I guess it boils down to what tastes good to that chicken. I have 2 hens that LOVE dried crickets, and one that won't touch them.

They will eat mixed lettuce greens, cucumber flesh, cauliflower and celery diced fine… they love love bugs and whatnot. They just don’t seem to care for the mealies… ha ha

Sometimes chicks need a while to decide that something tastes good.

You could put in one or two mealworms, once or twice a day, and just leave them there. That will give the chicks a chance to look, think, and try them. At some point, you will probably see the chicks come running because they have learned that mealworms are tasty.

(Your chickens can certainly be healthy without mealworms, but since you already have the worms, that's probably the easiest way to get the chickens used to eating them. Once a single chick decides they taste good, the others will learn from that example.)

seriously! If one has something- they all think it is a matter of life or death from that point ha ha

 

[NatJ]

They will eat mixed lettuce greens, cucumber flesh, cauliflower and celery diced fine… they love love bugs and whatnot. They just don’t seem to care for the mealies…

So they like fresh things better than dried mealworms? I think I would too, if I were a chicken.

My favorite treat to give chicks: wet chick starter. It's just their usual food with water added, but they seem to like it much better that way. So I get the fun of giving them a "treat," and they can have as much as they like without getting too much or too little of any nutrients.

 

[Swbertrand1]

I have a full flock that will gladly take them off your birds' wings for them...

 

[Nicrom]

When mine were younger they didn’t care about them to much. Now they are almost 6 months old and they tear them up! Haha!

 

[Chickassan]

Some birds are snobs when it comes to the dry ones.
The live ones on the other hand are nearly universally snapped up by all.

 

[Thancock760]

Some birds are snobs when it comes to the dry ones.
The live ones on the other hand are nearly universally snapped up by all.

I wish I knew!! LoL

 

[Sally PB]

My favorite treat to give chicks: wet chick starter. It's just their usual food with water added, but they seem to like it much better that way. So I get the fun of giving them a "treat," and they can have as much as they like without getting too much or too little of any nutrients.

I do this too. It's a great way to use up the fines that are in the bottom of the bowl, because they don't like those.

I have been catching Japanese Beetles for my chickens. All of them love them, except one. So I try to sneak her some grass when I give the others bug snack.