My chickens only want pasta

[TieTie]

And I forgot to say 'WELCOME!"
Mary

Thank you, Mary
Karen

 

[TieTie]

Ok. confession time. The first chickens I ever had... I didnt know better & created a flock of monsters with shredded cheese. Those birds would come up a flight of stairs & go thru the dog door multiple times a day trying to guilt me into giving them some. It was a nightmare & I knew it wasn't good for them, but I was such a sucker for those funny girls. After that flock died off (probably from clogged arteries... J/K!) we stopped giving the girls such naughty snacks. I can tell you my subsequent flocks have been just as happy to see me as the cheese addicts were, but are so much heathier.

PS. Try to give them watermelon. I've never known a chicken who hasn't completely freaked out about getting watermelon.

Your cheese story is pretty funny. These are my first chickens and someone told me that her chickens just stopped eating when they didn't like their food. So I was worried about that.

 

[TieTie]

my girls are the same i started to treat them with pasta and they stand and shout for more, when they see me they go mad running as fast as they can to get to me first, they get corn and grapes, the grape i use for adding fluvenet a wormer, they go nuts for grapes. so like you i have cut back on the pasta.

I have a Polish and to see her run around and her head feathers fly when she eats pasta is hilarious.

 

[featherhead007]

If too much pasta is a problem, supplement the diet with TUNA FISH.. But be warned: they get bad beak breath from tuna!

 

[Fishkeeper]

Chickens are animals, and animals eat food when they're hungry. If they were eating the crumble before, they know it's food. They'll go eat it. The only time when you'll have an animal starve despite being near suitable food is if they plain don't know that it's food, like how some fish only eat live food, and that's not the case with chickens.

 

[TieTie]

Keep up nothing but pasta and you'll have ill, malnourished, and rapidly dying birds.

Quit it... you are the responsible party.

NOTHING but feed for a while. Then add in things like scrambled egg (the protein is WAY more digestible if cooked) or meal worms (I prefer live). I do my treats ONLY at the end of the day before roost time after everyone had filled up on regular feed/forage. And no one is left in the lay box missing out.

NO treat should be fed at more than 10% of their total daily intake. Otherwise you are diminishing the formulated ration that has the correct vitamins, minerals, and importantly amino acids in the protein.

They will only starve to death if you let them get away with their demanding antic and give in. Then we will be slowly starving to death from lack of nutrients not calories. You had better harden up a little now or they will be running your life.

I don't mean to sound harsh... just give a good dose of reality. Chickens learn somethings (like harassing you for treats or to be let at a certain time in the AM) pretty fast and they are VERY persistent. BUT... they are creatures of habit, YOU set the routine and they will happily abide by it. Don't forget chickens are omnivores and they like meat!

I hope you enjoy BYC as much as I have, lots of great folks who really do care about helping us and our birds get the best in life.

I appreciate your honesty. These are my first chickens and I'm still learning. They do seem to be learning what they can get away with. And what they can't get away with...anymore.

 

[featherhead007]

OOPs and I had sushi today for lunch

 

[featherhead007]

I appreciate your honesty. These are my first chickens and I'm still learning. They do seem to be learning what they can get away with. And what they can't get away with...anymore.

Don't worry, they will have you trained soon!

 

[Trotamundos]

Are they Leghorns ? It could be the Italian heritage

 

[featherhead007]

Are they Leghorns ? It could be the Italian heritage