Pekin stopped eating

[PingTN]

I have two 8 year old Pekin hens. They have always eaten layer crumbles which I get at the local Co-op or TSC. Last week both stopped eating their food. I have always given them plain Cheerios as a treat on occasion. They will eat them just fine and at this point that is basically all they are eating except for what they get picking at the grass. They seem fine otherwise and act are acting normal. We thought maybe the food had gone bad even though it was a fairly new bag. We had gotten it from TSC and most of the time we get the Co-op feed so we went and bought a new bag from the Co-op and they won't eat it either. Any ideas??

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you give them alot of Cheerios? and are they still laying? maybe switch feed from layer to say a All flock and see if they like that. To keep from wasting the layer mix the 2 together. until done with the layer. Don't give any Cheerios while they aren't eating. Just like kids it's always more fun to eat the treats than the nutritious feed, but they won't remain healthy eating the treats only. At their age they need a good sound diet.

 

[PingTN]

Do you give them alot of Cheerios? and are they still laying? maybe switch feed from layer to say a All flock and see if they like that. To keep from wasting the layer mix the 2 together. until done with the layer. Don't give any Cheerios while they aren't eating. Just like kids it's always more fun to eat the treats than the nutritious feed, but they won't remain healthy eating the treats only. At their age they need a good sound diet.

They only get Cheerios when they have been out and I am going to put them up, it is their treat for coming in. One stopped laying last year and the other laid eggs this year but not a lot. I just find it odd that they both stopped eating the same day. I will try the all flock but I felt they needed to eat something so that is why I gave them the Cheerios.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh okay well I don't know why they have stopped eating. That's unusual my ducks are such pigs. maybe try putting something yummy mixed into their feed to get them started back and then after they are eating again gradually take away the filler. Maybe some tasty mealworms or a bit of scratch. Save the cheerios for what your using it for now.