- Thread starter
- #21
I think pecking back does work and have used it before successfully.
Please remember that by taking time to retrain the bully... you are benefiting the rest of the flock for the rest of their lives. You are NOT punishing them by not giving treats. That's like saying not giving my kids candy bars EVERY day would be punishment... NO, it simply good nutritional management from a caring guardian who has the bigger picture.
Now I see you say SMALL amounts.. so the following is for informational purposes only...
Corn... does NOT keep birds warm... that is a very common myth. Energy (aka calories) do provide the fuel needed for the the birds to keep themselves warm.. Our formulated rations are already mostly corn... adding more corn isn't benefiting our birds (except POSSIBLY by stimulation type enrichment). Energy comes from 3 sources... fat, protein, and carbs including fiber. Protein and carbs have the same caloric content yet vastly different nutrient profiles and benefits. Now carbs are important and I don't mean they are evil in any way... unless in excess, but that is true of most things. Good quality feathers are also key to birds keeping warm.
BSFL, BOSS, meal worms, and eggs... are good sources of protein but VERY high in fat.
Now fat is a denser form of calories... so birds in extremely cold environments with very short days... may benefit from the added calories if they cannot take in enough during daylight hours to maintain body condition.
I don't give my birds anything until later in the day after everyone has had access to the formulated ration first and all ladies have finished with the lay boxes. This way I ensure they are getting the nutrients needed before possibly filling up on lower quality snacks.
I don't regard greens as a treat... since my birds are pasture raised. (Which means I also happen to have no control over how many fatty worms or bugs they may eat naturally.) But I do still try giving them later in the day. I realize you must work with YOUR schedule, so just sharing what SEEMS to work for me so far. As I learn new things or face new challenges, I switch it up as needed.Before I moved to lush pasture, when I lived in the desert... I also raised red wigglers in a compost bin. Back then my birds gobbled them like snack crack. Since having different pasture access they often turned their noses up and completely ignored the worms. I quit raising them since they clearly have loads at our new location as evidenced by moving any object on the yard and looking underneath.
I have never used peepers but I think just the bullies wear them. I have seen reports of behavioral improvement and a challenge getting them on but not of the bully getting harassed for wearing them.
You make a good point about retraining the bully. I didn't look at it this way until you mentioned it. As for the treats, I guess I have a bunch of spoiled chickens.
