New Chickens not eating or drinking?

[J&Kfeatheredfowl]

Hm-m-m, I am guessing you have 3, light Sussex hens, 8-10 months old? I too, have a light Sussex. Calm, gentle, active, that is how they are described in Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart. My girl is skittish and flighty. When you have a young, mini-flock and they are in unfamiliar surroundings, they will be cautious. Your girls appear in good shape. I know you have a waterer and feed trough, but, you should try putting a low pail of water and food in a pan. They will see it from the door, and may be enticed to take a chance. Also, the area is very open around the pen, no nearby shrubs, trees or structures. This may be making them feel vulnerable.

Wow, they are on strike! Ok, get that crushed feed and moisten it with a little water (not soggy). If that doesn't work, mix in some cooked grain: oat groats, wheat berries, barley, or brown rice, whatever you have in the kitchen. I'm sure they are feeling hungry, they won't eat much if not laying, but they still have to eat.

Agreed!

 

[ben0125]

Hm-m-m, I am guessing you have 3, light Sussex hens, 8-10 months old? I too, have a light Sussex. Calm, gentle, active, that is how they are described in Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart. My girl is skittish and flighty. When you have a young, mini-flock and they are in unfamiliar surroundings, they will be cautious. Your girls appear in good shape. I know you have a waterer and feed trough, but, you should try putting a low pail of water and food in a pan. They will see it from the door, and may be enticed to take a chance. Also, the area is very open around the pen, no nearby shrubs, trees or structures. This may be making them feel vulnerable.

Wow, they are on strike! Ok, get that crushed feed and moisten it with a little water (not soggy). If that doesn't work, mix in some cooked grain: oat groats, wheat berries, barley, or brown rice, whatever you have in the kitchen. I'm sure they are feeling hungry, they won't eat much if not laying, but they still have to eat.

I did both... They pecked once and ignored it

 

[ben0125]

Hm-m-m, I am guessing you have 3, light Sussex hens, 8-10 months old? I too, have a light Sussex. Calm, gentle, active, that is how they are described in Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart. My girl is skittish and flighty. When you have a young, mini-flock and they are in unfamiliar surroundings, they will be cautious. Your girls appear in good shape. I know you have a waterer and feed trough, but, you should try putting a low pail of water and food in a pan. They will see it from the door, and may be enticed to take a chance. Also, the area is very open around the pen, no nearby shrubs, trees or structures. This may be making them feel vulnerable.

Wow, they are on strike! Ok, get that crushed feed and moisten it with a little water (not soggy). If that doesn't work, mix in some cooked grain: oat groats, wheat berries, barley, or brown rice, whatever you have in the kitchen. I'm sure they are feeling hungry, they won't eat much if not laying, but they still have to eat.

They were last feed chook chow so I should probably go to that when I run outta pellets, I've found that apparently they will still eat it even if they don't like it, but they do like chook chow according to last owners

 

[ben0125]

Hm-m-m, I am guessing you have 3, light Sussex hens, 8-10 months old? I too, have a light Sussex. Calm, gentle, active, that is how they are described in Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart. My girl is skittish and flighty. When you have a young, mini-flock and they are in unfamiliar surroundings, they will be cautious. Your girls appear in good shape. I know you have a waterer and feed trough, but, you should try putting a low pail of water and food in a pan. They will see it from the door, and may be enticed to take a chance. Also, the area is very open around the pen, no nearby shrubs, trees or structures. This may be making them feel vulnerable.

Wow, they are on strike! Ok, get that crushed feed and moisten it with a little water (not soggy). If that doesn't work, mix in some cooked grain: oat groats, wheat berries, barley, or brown rice, whatever you have in the kitchen. I'm sure they are feeling hungry, they won't eat much if not laying, but they still have to eat.

Like this? and should I put it somewhere visable from the inside?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yes, that pan looks good. Have they eaten anything today? Did they come from a place where there were a lot of chickens running around? Have you offered fresh fruit? If you have any watermelon or cantalope, a few slices of some juicy looking fruit in a pan may snap them out of that mental funk they are in! Are they pooping? What does it look like? Poop can reveal illness if you know what to look for. The good people here on BYC are pretty good at information on chicken illness. Upload poop pics if you can.

 

[ben0125]

Yes, that pan looks good. Have they eaten anything today? Did they come from a place where there were a lot of chickens running around? Have you offered fresh fruit? If you have any watermelon or cantalope, a few slices of some juicy looking fruit in a pan may snap them out of that mental funk they are in! Are they pooping? What does it look like? Poop can reveal illness if you know what to look for. The good people here on BYC are pretty good at information on chicken illness. Upload poop pics if you can.

I feed them at around 6:30 this morning and have been out since, I gave them 1cup of mashed pellets, tomato, cucumber and some other scrap. There is quite a bit of poo but looks completly normal

 

[ben0125]

Yes, that pan looks good. Have they eaten anything today? Did they come from a place where there were a lot of chickens running around? Have you offered fresh fruit? If you have any watermelon or cantalope, a few slices of some juicy looking fruit in a pan may snap them out of that mental funk they are in! Are they pooping? What does it look like? Poop can reveal illness if you know what to look for. The good people here on BYC are pretty good at information on chicken illness. Upload poop pics if you can.

Once they start eating from the pan could I go back to the feeder I paid money for

 

[ben0125]

Yes, that pan looks good.Have they eaten anything today? Did they come from a place where there were a lot of chickens running around? Have you offered fresh fruit? If you have any watermelon or cantalope, a few slices of some juicy looking fruit in a pan may snap them out of that mental funk they are in! Are they pooping? What does it look like? Poop can reveal illness if you know what to look for. The good people here on BYC are pretty good at information on chicken illness. Upload poop pics if you can.

I'll give them some chook choy which they used to eat and see if they will eat that

 

[ben0125]

Yes, that pan looks good. Have they eaten anything today? Did they come from a place where there were a lot of chickens running around? Have you offered fresh fruit? If you have any watermelon or cantalope, a few slices of some juicy looking fruit in a pan may snap them out of that mental funk they are in! Are they pooping? What does it look like? Poop can reveal illness if you know what to look for. The good people here on BYC are pretty good at information on chicken illness. Upload poop pics if you can.

Previous place had a different type of waterer and feeder with 5 brown shavers

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yes, in fact you will find that they are very smart. Once they trust you and see that good things come from their keeper, they will be happy hens. Chickens are not robots, they have feelings of fear, anxiousness, contentment, enjoyment too. They have really good memory also. You are in the bonding period right now, building trust. Speak softly to your little girls. Let them get used to hearing your voice, move slowly in their environment. Don't let dogs bark or harass them, young children also must be taught that these are living things, and must be treated kindly. In return they will serve your family by providing eggs!