Poll: Do high-value treats turn your chickens into savages?

[thecatumbrella]

I had this brilliant idea to put a treat dispenser over the chickens' sand box. It works on a timer. Treats drop, everyone runs in, and they scratch through the sand looking for morsels. This, in turn, cleans their poopy feathered feet. Everyone wins, right?

Well... now the pecking order's in full throttle.

* flashback to last night *

The timer goes off. The treats fall. The only chicken to notice is the top bird. She begins to vacuum up the treats. The lowest ranking bird wanders over and SHE GOES FOR IT! SHE JUMPS IN THE BOX LIKE A CHAMPION! They're neck and neck, each racing to eat more pieces than the other. Top hen can't take it anymore. She hammers low hen's back. Low hen takes the blow and keeps eating, a true Rocky Balboa moment. Top hen hammers harder, again and again and again. Low hen cannot and will not stop eating those treats! Top hen has to pull out the big guns. She latches onto low hen's back and rips out a clump of feathers! Low hen finally relents and jumps out of the box, peering back over the wall in defeat.

I think these birds are nuts. So please, let me know, how do your chickens behave at treat time?

 

[CascadiaRiver]

At treat time they just sit there and eat the treats. If the big old bird stares at one of the bantams too long she may get a peck or something but, she's a lil special and senior at 8yo so but no I haven't had my birds get like that around treats, regardless of the value of them

 

[thecatumbrella]

At treat time they just sit there and eat the treats. If the big old bird stares at one of the bantams too long she may get a peck or something but, she's a lil special and senior at 8yo so but no I haven't had my birds get like that around treats, regardless of the value of them

You have such sweet birds!

 

[CabritaChicks]

I bought loads of fancy, pre-packaged treats—everything from scratch grains to soldier fly larvae—but they won’t go near them! On the other hand, they’re all over watermelon rinds, spaghetti squash skins, leafy greens and similar scraps. They don’t really fight, but they definitely make sure to shove the smallest one out of the way. Haha.

 

[Pigeony]

If it's something they really want, it becomes a war zone. Chicks will be punted, anything goes and all previous friendships are forgotten in search of treat. The one who has the "best" piece will run around like they're the one with the football in the game of their lives, every other chicken following and waiting for their chance to snatch (even if there's plenty, because apparently that piece is the best). If it's a mid-tier food, they're excited by it but less violent.

 

[CabritaChicks]

If it's something they really want, it becomes a war zone. Chicks will be punted, anything goes and all previous friendships are forgotten in search of treat. The one who has the "best" piece will run around like they're the one with the football in the game of their lives, every other chicken following and waiting for their chance to snatch (even if there's plenty, because apparently that piece is the best). If it's a mid-tier food, they're excited by it but less violent.

Ill second the football game with treats when they run away.... Mine don't fight AT the sight of food- it is when one runs with a chunk of fresh stuffs- and just so happens to make a noise so everyone else notices! Then yesss, it is like a footaball game.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Ill second the football game with treats when they run away.... Mine don't fight AT the sight of food- it is when one runs with a chunk of fresh stuffs- and just so happens to make a noise so everyone else notices! Then yesss, it is like a footaball game.

And sometimes it's a piece of bedding with a little chicken poop on it that somehow got mistaken as food, and everybody has to run around to try and get it...

 

[thecatumbrella]

And sometimes it's a piece of bedding with a little chicken poop on it that somehow got mistaken as food, and everybody has to run around to try and get it...

YES! Ugh, why?! For me, it was poop stuck to a feather. These dolts are pecking each other over a piece of . Unbelievable.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I’m always telling people, “Chickens are smarter than you think!” …and then they go and pull something like that. It makes it awfully hard to keep up the argument.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I’m always telling people, “Chickens are smarter than you think!” …and then they go and pull something like that. It makes it awfully hard to keep up the argument.

I mean
Pretty sure some (adult) humans would, concerning, do similar things for fun. Sooo....
Ahem

My birds have taught themselves to peck the side of their feeder because that helps some food flow down
They're brilliant, I tell you
So what if they occasionally forget they can walk around the gate... (well, fortunately, mine aren't having that problem. Some of the past birds I grew up with, though... very much "panic = forget everything")

(Edit. Watch as I jinx myself and my birds suddenly forget how to get home.)