My hens won't eat anything other than regular feed

[Chookwagn]

My young chicks wont touch anything other than feed as well but as they grow up they try different things... i just think of it as fussy young children not willing to try other things

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

Agree with @SueT you're just trying to get them to basically eat junk food. Seems as youngsters they know better!

 

[Flockincrazy]

I'm a backyard chicken newbie. I have two hens around 7 and 10 weeks old. I have them on the grower feed. I've read that chickens love watermelon on hot days, so I put a slice of watermelon in there, and they didn't even touch it. I also read that they like tomatoes and I threw some in there as well. The hens also completely ignored those.

Any thoughts?

Beak them to the watermelon if you have never given it to them they are like kids the reluctantance to try new things is real lol

 

[HollyWoozle]

I’d be delighted if our flock would eat their damn feed instead of everything else they find or my parents throw to them.

Yours might like more variety when they are older perhaps but their feed should cover what they need so I say leave them to it.

 

[achiekitty]

I agree with Sourland. I would keep trying to give it to them another time. My experience with chickens is that, just because they don’t like it this time, doesn’t mean they will not try it next time.
Good luck.

Chickens dislike change and generally are reluctant to try new foods. Give them time, and offer small pieces of watermelon or tomato.

 

[achiekitty]

I’d be delighted if our flock would eat their damn feed instead of everything else they find or my parents throw to them.

Yours might like more variety when they are older perhaps but their feed should cover what they need so I say leave them to it.

Oh, gosh. Yes, ours have not been eating much of their feed, either. They’re 4 and 6 year olds and we free range them in the day time.

I shouldn’t complain, save us money on feed.

 

[SueT]

Watermelon gives chickens diahhrea, just so you know.....

 

[Ebony Rose]

The water content in watermelon gives them wet poop, but that water content in their poop is also how they regulate their body temperature. The wet poop allows them to expel more heat.
Next time you offer something new to eat, excitedly cluck at them while pointing at the new treat and bobbing your head up and down (as if nodding yes). Sounds crazy, but that's exactly what their momma would do to introduce them to new foods.

 

[mviera101]

Like the others have said, give them small pieces from your hand, they will come to know you as the giver of treats.They'll soon realize that the daily chow in the feeder isn't near as exciting as what comes from "the hand of the giver" Small pieces are best . Mine come running when they see me and will follow and complain when the treat wasn't enough, or not to their liking.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I don’t buy “treats” of people food for my chickens. I’m too “sustainability focused” ( aka cheap) for that.

But using chickens to dispose of food waste generated at home makes a ton of sense on some many levels...far more than concerns about diluting their nutrient intake.