My rooster doesn’t like to eat his usual feed anymore

[AChickenBoi]

My boy, Blue, is a 2-3 year old blue silkie rooster. He has scissor beak, so he has special needs when it comes to feeding. In the morning, once he’s been let out of his nightly kennel-carrier, I let him run around and socialize with the girls of the flock. About 10-20 minutes later, once he’s calmed down a little, I bring out a small bowl of feed/scratch/cracked corn and lower it down at his feeding station. It’s slightly elevated, so he doesn’t have to bend down to eat. He’s thinner than the average silkie, so I’m trying to build his weight back up with all sorts of things. While his breakfast-lunch consists of the feed/scratch that I mentioned, I feed him 1 or 2 hard boiled eggs (along with whatever tasty treat I add along with his eggs to give him some variety and have him try new things) for “dinner”. He is hand fed the eggs, which are cut up into smaller pieces so he can swallow them easier. Sometimes, if I think he didn’t eat a whole lot that day, I put a small bowl of feed in his carrier so he can freely eat something before bed.

As of recently, however, he doesn’t seem to want to eat his usual feed in the morning. It doesn’t concern me too much, as he always likes to eat the eggs I boil for him, so he does end up getting nutrients and protein, which I’ve been told is very good for thinner chickens to eat. He goes crazy for any “people food” I have when I’m outside like bread, spaghetti noodles, or fruit, and I think I remember him happily eating the mealworms in his bowl along with the feed yesterday, but he just doesn’t want to eat what he’s supposed to eat

Is it possible that he’s just burnt out on his everyday feed? He’s eaten this stuff happily for the past few months, and it’s easy for him to grab since they’re pellet shaped. I don’t think he has any worms or crop issues, as he is running around, crowing, and chasing the girls, which is something he doesn’t do when he’s sick. His feathers, comb, and plumage are the most vibrant and soft as ever, and he drinks fine (not to mention eats whatever human foods I have in my possession). He’s just not a fan of his current feed all of a sudden. I personally think he’s burnt out, but I want him to still eat food that’s balanced in nutrition and vitamins. Got any ideas? I always come and ask on here when I’ve got nothing I’ll happily provide pictures of him if anybody asks for them, but I don’t think I have the bags the feed came in anymore.

 

[chickentrains]

Can you try wetting it down so he thinks its something new? or mix the bits of egg in with his food, so he eats bits of food while hes trying to eat the eggs

 

[AChickenBoi]

Can you try wetting it down so he thinks its something new? or mix the bits of egg in with his food, so he eats bits of food while hes trying to eat the eggs

Oh! That’s a good idea! I can try, but he doesn’t really like wet food and will likely leave it alone after a few picks. Good suggestion though !

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens don't get "burnt out" on food - they'll usually do better on a consistent ration. And if I were him, I wouldn't bother eating my chicken feed if I knew I'd be getting eggs, spaghetti, bread and mealworms later on in the day.

 

[AChickenBoi]

Chickens don't get "burnt out" on food - they'll usually do better on a consistent ration. And if I were him, I wouldn't bother eating my chicken feed if I knew I'd be getting eggs, spaghetti, bread and mealworms later on in the day.

He doesn’t even get spaghetti and bread every day. It’s just the eggs to give him that extra boost of protein and nutrients that I know he doesn’t usually get in the yard. Blue also growls like a dog, attacks people based on the shoes they wear, and tries to drink dirty water from the ground, so I would consider him a special case in this scenario, and regular chicken rules mostly won’t apply to him lol!