My Chicken Won't East Her Grain

[Astrolover13]

My Rhode Island Red has been very sick for the past two days, (almost death,) and she is almost at full recovery and actually laid an egg today! However, I'm a little worried because I've been trying to hand feed ehr food and she eats a lot of it but all she wants is fruits, (strawberries, blueberries,) and lettuce. I try to give her grit and cheerios and sunflower seeds and her layer but she won't eat any of it. Then once I hold out the fruit/lettuce again she goes straight back to eating. Is this okay for right now because she isn't fully recovered or is there a way to get her to take her grain?

 

[KansasKate]

Just out of curiosity, when you say "hand feed," what do you mean? It isn't surprising to me that she'd jump at the more attractive treats when offered by hand. Is there any way you can leave her layer pellets nearby?

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

If she's eating some stuff and not the other, it's for a reason. Fruits are very healthy. I would skip the lettuce, it doesn't have much nutritional value. Keep feeding her the fruit, it's much better than nothing, and put her layer and sunflower seeds near her.

 

[Astrolover13]

Well, we do try to hand feed her the layer aswell but she refuses to eat it. I've tried stuffing some layer in one of her grapes but she realizes it's there and won't eat it.

 

[KansasKate]

I agree with Erin: the lettuce isn't all that important, but she does need some protein. Maybe try a little yogurt. And do leave some sunflower seed (shelled) and layer nearby.

 

[devora]

I would take some crumbles and mix it w/ sour cream. Off it to her on a spoon.

Yummy and difficult to resist.