My chickens disappointed me!

[bawkbawkbawk]

They won't eat watermelon!

We had a beautiful seedless watermelon for dinner the other night and I saved several pieces for my girls - they're 11 weeks old today. I've read how much chickens love watermelon so was very excited to give it to them.

They stared at it like it was UFO's. Tip-toed up to it. Tasted it. And then avoided it like the plague. Would have NOTHING to do with it!

They love mealworms and wheat grass. And yogurt mixed with their food. Otherwise, this was the only treat I've given them. Did I wait too long to introduce them ot other foods?

 

[jwchicklady]

some of mine like watermelon, some don't as much. leave it out there for awhile till they get used to it. mine pick every last bit of melon of the rind till the rind is all white. Sometimes they just need to get used to new things. mine ate a whole bunch of broccoli today for the first time, at first they weren't interested, but I left them alone and went back later to find it all gone.

 

[SandyK]

My girls are around 18 weeks or so now and they love everything I bring them. I usually feed it to them and they take it from my hand. Figured I could get them tamer that way. Now a couple of them jump in my lap to get it first.

Tonight we had some left over rice and broccoli I took to them in a bowl. There were all seven crowded all around it going to town. It was so funny watching them. That was a first for them too.

Bananas are just ok for them.

 

[skywatcher]

They just need to get a little older then they will turn into chow hounds.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Sometimes it takes a while to expand their culinary experience.

Maybe sprinkle wheat grass on it and let them pick it off. That might help them get used to the watermelon idea.

 

[Monk]

My birds were a little hesitant at first, now the come running, try and devour everthing offered.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine need time to get used to things. At first they wouldn't touch bread, now it's one of their favorites.

Keep offering it, and I bet they will decide they love it.

 

[fldiver97]

Try it again when they are a little older. I tried several different treats over a couple of weeks and my girls were curious but then eyed things suspisiously and then walked away. Some stuff that spoils quickly I had to remove and reintroduce, other treats I left for a while. It took them a little while but now they come running when I call them to check what I have and they are pretty quick to try new things. Yoghurt was an easy one though....

 

[lovemychix]

Mine love it!
Mine love anything I give them. I'm like the treat fairy.
Sometimes if it is something new I hold it in my hand and feed it to them. For some reason they think since I'm offering it, it MUST be good.

 

[cmom]

My pullets didn't eat the watermelons right away either so I just left some. After awhile one pullet would investigate then another then another. It wasn't long before several of them were pecking at it and it was gone except the outermost piece of the rind. My hens love watermelon. When they see me come out with some they come running. Watermelon is one of our crops so they get a lot of it.