Not eating their chicken food

[mommasandy4]

My little flock appear healthy. No problems that I can identify. However, they aren't eating the chicken feed I keep in their run all of the time. They are free-range and get treats just about every day, i.e. watermelon and cantaloupe rinds; once in a while pasta leftovers etc. or scratch. Need I worry?

 

[RojoMarz]

Stop the treats and they will likely eat the pellets. They really need the feed to maintain a healthy diet.

 

[gointothebirdsfarm]

Make sure you give them their feed and plenty of time to eat it before you give them treats. That way you know they are getting the nutrition they need.

 

[ABBandit]

They may just be full of the treats that you give them daily/free-ranging. I know that when I leave my chickens to free-range, they don't touch their food as much. How long have they been acting like this?

 

[Relleoms]

I like to add water to some of their pellets-they think it’s a treat but they still get the nutrients they need. I add about 1 cup water to 2 cups pellets in an old cool whip container-adjust water as necessary to make an oatmeal like consistency. This is enough for about 20 chickens.

 

[mommasandy4]

They may just be full of the treats that you give them daily/free-ranging. I know that when I leave my chickens to free-range, they don't touch their food as much. How long have they been acting like this?

Just since I changed their feed container. About a week. I thought they might not like the new container.

 

[mommasandy4]

I like to add water to some of their pellets-they think it’s a treat but they still get the nutrients they need. I add about 1 cup water to 2 cups pellets in an old cool whip container-adjust water as necessary to make an oatmeal like consistency. This is enough for about 20 chickens.

I can surely try that just so I can make sure they are getting what they need.

 

[mommasandy4]

Make sure you give them their feed and plenty of time to eat it before you give them treats. That way you know they are getting the nutrition they need.

Aha! You mean like I do with the grandchildren!!

 

[gointothebirdsfarm]

Aha! You mean like I do with the grandchildren!!

Exactly!

 

[ABBandit]

Just since I changed their feed container. About a week. I thought they might not like the new container.

It could be also due to the feed container. They might not know how to use it. What kind of container is it? Do they have to do anything complex?