Newly free-ranging chickens don't want my treats

[gophert]

My 3 girls used to eagerly chow down on all our veggie and kitchen scraps when we had them penned up in their chicken ark. Now that we are letting them out, they are turning up at their beaks at just about everything I offer except for fruit oranything grain- or protein-based. They are still quite enthused about their actual feed.

This is fine, right? They know what they need? My yard is small--1/3 acre at most!--but is wild, weedy, grassy, mulchy, and buggy and probably full of all kinds of good chicken snacks.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Yep, they are finding plenty of greens in the yard, but at least they will still come to you if you offer fruit or grains or protein, since treats are one of the few ways to exert influence over chickens. It sounds like they are getting a balanced diet.

 

[DangerChickenHouse]

Thanks for this post. My girls are turning me down too.

 

[southerndesert]

In my humble opinion that is a good thing, they are happy with what you use as feed and free range....