My girls don't like treats :(

[TheSpiceGirls]

When I had girls that age, the only thing that got them excited were noodles.

Give them time. They will come around. My girls love treats today. They are 8 months old. New things must still be discussed and tested before they become good eats. The only thing they won't touch these days are whole ears of corn. Go figure. They'll scarf it down if I cut the corn off the cob and put it in their treat bowl.

Hens are so silly.

 

[Arielle]

Hens are so silly.

Mine love the corn on the cob and many other things too, like raisens. THey used to like worms, but not any more We are a haven for worms and have plenty for the hens and never run out!!​

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
Oh, yes. All the time. It seems like it takes about five tries with each new item before they realize it's good. I just count on them not liking sunflower seeds the first time I give them. And I even soak them overnight. They are still on treat tray the next day. But by the fifth time I serve them, they are starting to like them and one or two will eat a few.

The spaghetti squash looks enough like worms for them to try that right away. Their brains are wired for the shape of wheat seeds, moving bug shapes, and moving worm shapes. But I still have chicks that are about 7 weeks old that won't eat anything until their mom comes over and pronounces it okay with her little squawks. Just today, I gave them whole wheat and the chicks looked at it stupidly, then chirped at it in alarm, and then their mom came over and said, "Go for it," in her momma voice and they all started chowing down.

Your garden likely won't be all that safe. It just takes one of them pecking at that raspberry bush and then it won't be long before they're all over there. But then, it really does depend on what your flock decides they're willing to risk or what they like.

Oh, and if you want them to come running to you, then call them the way you want to consistently get them to come to you as you feed them. A spoon banging on the feed dish, a whistle, or something else and they will connect that sound with treats and come running. Takes a little training, but should work.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Thank you so much for posting this! We are experiencing the same thing. We raised our chicks, who are now 14-15 weeks, without giving them treats. We sat with them in the coop and now they will all sit on our lap and approach us in the yard. Last week, I tried to give them strawberries and cantaloupe and they wanted nothing to do with it.

They love their feed from a local mill and will eat scratch. Of course, they eat grass and such, but I don't plan to add treats to their diet since they are obviously happy without them! Oh, and

 

[TouchO'Lass]

Yeah, it seems strange what they like and don't: I have BR's, EE's and Polish.

They LOVE:
Cantaloupe, orange slices, carrot shreds, chopped apple, broccolli slaw, maggots

...

Didn't touch:
Cabbage, yogurt (sprinkled with their food), dandelions, strawberry, mashed nanners, baby salad greens (from thinning the garden)

Figured I'll just keep trying new stuff and sneak some of the old stuff in now and then...

 

[deserthens]

My hens love whole wheat bread and tomatoes. Seem to try other treats after they decide I'm not going to offer a favorite treat. They are scratch junkies With our heat I've had to cut they almost completely off. They are confused...

 

[Chick Charm]

Patience, Patience, Patience. You will discover they will love

many different "TREATS". They will follow you around when you have your coverted TREAT "bag" "jar" "bowl" "container". They just seem to know when the treats are coming.

 

[Jetfanjim]

Our "Girls"..5 Rhode Island Reds/3 Leghorns approx 10/11 weeks old were afraid of all treats we put in the run/coop. Now when they see my wife or myself they are always looking. The love Watermelon,cantaloupe rind. Tomatoes (ripe not Green) and the leaves off the zucchini/cucumber plants but not the stems. When we open the coop in the am the come charging out looking to see if we put anything down. Give yours time the will come around. I also chirp when walking up to the run if i'm giving them something so they get use to it.