New pullets won't eat

[aart]

Quote: Must have missed that part......any chance the feed is old(check the label for manufacture date) and possibly moldy?
Eventually they'll get hungry enough and eat it.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Must have missed that part......any chance the feed is old(check the label for manufacture date) and possibly moldy?
Eventually they'll get hungry enough and eat it.

^^^ X2. If they're still alive after 2 days, not fading, eating treats and grass and ham and such, they have an appetite, with no diagnosed symptoms. Of course they will pick out treats and tasties but it's not a balanced diet that provides complete nutrition like the feed formulas. Not feeding a balanced diet might have repercussions.

 

[Toddrick]

Must have missed that part......any chance the feed is old(check the label for manufacture date) and possibly moldy?
Eventually they'll get hungry enough and eat it.

All my feed is new. I only had Layena the first day, and when they weren't eating that I went and bought a new bag of Starter feed. Like I said, I tried withholding the treats one day and they still didn't eat the feed, and they have lost a noticeable amount of weight, so I'm giving them a small bowl of "treat" stuff (actually fairly well balanced) twice a day. [Oh that reminds me, I'm gonna make some sprouts out of some red wheat and give that to them in a few days].

When I raised my own chicks their crops were always like golf balls from eating a lot, they ate constantly. I can't even feel the crop on these two when I pick them up. These are actually larger birds than my others even though they are so young, so I'd expect them to eat even more.

I went ahead and put Corid in their water along with the electrolytes. Yesterday I mixed Corid directly into some scrambled eggs for their first dose. I just fed them some white rice mixed with feed to see if that helps normalize their stool.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Super! Sounds like you have it handled!

 

[Toddrick]

Super! Sounds like you have it handled!   

Not really, they still refuse to eat their feed. There is one more thing that I think I am going to try, which is changing their bedding to straw. I thought of a theory today, which is that they may be eating their pine shavings and that's why they aren't eating the feed. I did notice that they behaved like pine shavings were new to them on the first day, and they kept trying to eat it. They seemed more familiar with the lawn to me, so I wonder if they were kept outside at the hatchery.

 

[aart]

Not really, they still refuse to eat their feed. There is one more thing that I think I am going to try, which is changing their bedding to straw. I thought of a theory today, which is that they may be eating their pine shavings and that's why they aren't eating the feed. I did notice that they behaved like pine shavings were new to them on the first day, and they kept trying to eat it. They seemed more familiar with the lawn to me, so I wonder if they were kept outside at the hatchery.

Plausible theory.
Are you feeding the treats in a different dish than the feed?
Maybe put feed instead of treats in the treat dish when they are outside?

 

[Emma Miriam]

I agree, perhaps they're eating too many pine shavings. Since they seem to feel better outside, I'd also recommend putting them in the coop and run (as long as you have a run...I wouldn't let them free range until they get used to their home). The more natural environment you can get them in, the better!

Others have expressed concern that they might be eating too many treats, so if they'll eat these, I'd try to stick with greens (grass, sprouts like you had mentioned, safe weeds, etc.), and scrambled eggs. I've read that eggs contain most of the nutrients chickens need (which makes sense), so feeding them that is probably the closest you can get to the balanced nutrients in starter feed.

Keep us updated!

 

[allpeepedout]

Hopefully, they are eating feed by now? One thing that occurred to me: my chicks were raised on crumbles and refuse to eat pellets. Perhaps your pullets don't recognize feed as feed, or the feed container.

I'd call the hatchery you got them from and ask what they have been fed, the texture, what kind of feeder, and try to simulate.

 

[Toddrick]

Hopefully, they are eating feed by now? One thing that occurred to me: my chicks were raised on crumbles and refuse to eat pellets. Perhaps your pullets don't recognize feed as feed, or the feed container.

I'd call the hatchery you got them from and ask what they have been fed, the texture, what kind of feeder, and try to simulate.

That's exactly what I did. I tried pellets first and switched to starter crumbles. Then I contacted the hatchery to find out what their feed was, and they said they use their own (expensive) feed. They recommended putting shiny coins in the feed to get them to peck at it, which has not worked either.

I haven't had a chance to change their bedding yet. I will do it when I get home this evening.

 

[Toddrick]

Update: I changed the bedding yesterday. The straw is staying tidier, so that's good. I gave them zero treats yesterday or today, and they still didn't put the slightest dent in the feed. The good news is that they are definitely having solid poo now.

I refreshed their water (with Corid and Rooster Booster), dumped out the feed they weren't eating, and put fresh starter feed (same stuff) in. Then I fed them some scrambled eggs, which they ate well. I'm just going to keep feeding them pure scrambled eggs once a day until they get a bigger appetite.

They do still look very healthy, but their appetite has a long way to go.