my girls wont eat treat

[Tecalli]

I've had three pullets (2.5 months) for a week and a half now-- an ameracuna, a barred rock, and an orphington. They seems healthy and happy and the barred rock is especially friendly, often jumping in my lap to get petted. They have a large secure run where they spend a lot of time eating grass and looking for bugs. They seem to be eating their starter food at a fast clip, which they hjave constant access to in their coop. There are so many posts on BYC talking about how much their chickens like treats, but I can't find a treat mine want to eat. They have no interest in the scratch that I bought at TSC. I've also tried: cooked rice, lettuce, cabbage, cooked egg, squash, melon, bread, bananna muffin, and uncooked oatmeal. Yesterday morning when I was weeding my garden I pulled off a bunch of fat slugs and offered it to them in a bowl. While all three came running to look what was in the bowl, they then lost interest and didn't even peck at a slug.

Also, after reading various posts on BYC I got a kitty litter pan and filled it with play sand and put it in their coop for them to use as a dust bath. The sand is still undisturbed so they clearly haven't used it.

I'm new to chickens and can't figure out why mine don't want treats, and why mine won't take a dust bath. Suggestions?

 

[fordmommy]

I think that chickens are "chicken" of new things. They need to see the others do it first. Even if it's by accident.

When I first tried to give mine things, they wouldn't have anything to do with it. They came from a place that only offered water and chicken feed. I had to show them with the watermelon to peck at it. And I did that with my finger. Then I broke off a few small pieces and put it on the ground. They liked it when the juice came out. Then I walked away and let them explore it. It didn't take long and one tried it. Then the others. Now it's their favorite treat and good for them too.

And now they are more willing to try new things. But they will NOT eat any kind of lettuce. I don't know why. But they love small fishing worms. They wiggle! That's fun. And canalope. But that's kinda hard for little ones.

 

[chuckzoo]

Try putting some treats in with their food in a little bowl, since it will be something familiar they may try it.

I have two chickens now 16 weeks and I got a black "tray" that you mix concrete in at Lowes for $4. It is great since it is very sturdy and large enough for them - would probably fit 3 chickens comfortably. Throw a little of their crumbles in the sand to attract them to it.

 

[wildorchid053]

new treats are scarey.. you should have seen mine with a "killer" broccoli.. if one touched it and it moved they all screamed and ran.. now i have found one of their favs is corn on the cob.. watermelon too. they will get used to it. i always serve it in a white bowl and when they are free ranging and i call chick chick chick.. they see the white bowl and come running into the run for their treats.. makes it an easy roundup at the end of the day

 

[Tecalli]

Thanks for this advice. I will definitely give it a try.

Chuckzoo, what do you mean by crumbles?

 

[Lancaster City Farmer]

Give them shelled sunflower seeds they will go bonkers also they love strawberries so much so I have not eaten an unmolested one in my patch for 2 months!

 

[kittyariel]

The first time I gave mine watermelon they ran into their coop like I was trying to kill them. Now they will try just aoout anything right out of my hand, they just had their first mango this morning and loved it, dont worry they will come around:yiipchick

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
Their chick starter is in crumbled form, small crumb-like pieces , hence crumbles.