So I gave my chicks spaghetti for the first time today...

[chicken_china_mom]

And it was the most hilarious thing I have ever seen! Every time I offer treats, my Silkies are always the first ones to grab some and try it. They love eating the clover and wild violets that my girls pull out of the grass and give to them, and the other night I offered them my left over dinner which had some mashed potatoes, biscuits, and gravy from a Banquet home baked meal. It was funny cause they liked it, they just didn't like when the mashed potatoes got on their beaks. They were kind enough to jump up on me and use my as a napkin.

Tonight when I came out with the bag of spaghetti they came over, curious to see what I had, and when I pulled out a few strands they about went nuts! The keep away game was so hilarious to watch that I almost had tears in my eyes. My Silkies were trying to devour every noodle I threw to them, but in the rush to grab noodles, one landed on a Silkies' wing and I had to catch the bird and try to work the noodle out of their oh so soft feathers. It wasn't easy, that noodle was sticky! My Cochins were loving them too. Even my picky Wyandottes were excited and eating them. Then my older daughter came in with some mint leaves from the mint patch on the side of our house and you'd have thought my birds had died and gone to heaven! They were loving those mint leaves. I couldn't find the camera, but next time I bring them spaghetti, I will snap some pictures. It was too darn funny!
I swear, chickens are good therapy after a long hard day at work...

 

[007Dawn]

Yes they are good therapy. Mine love cucumbers, they eat it all except the "skin". So they have hoops when they are done. But if I cut the skin off they won't touch them! Same with watermelon.

 

[nwgirl]

Mint leaves? I never would have thought. I guess they like fresh breath

 

[chicken_china_mom]

We have given them biscuits with gravy, spaghetti, rice, puffed brown rice cereal (which I get for a $1.00 a bag at WalMart and it's yummy!), cooked white rice, corn, and a few other things, and they will devour just about anything. It's funny watching them. I laugh cause whenever I bend down to check food levels or to put something on the ground, two or three fly up onto my back and sit there. Tonight I had bent down to pick up my favorite little roo Pip (a Sebright, and my first to start crowing) and suddenly I had 3 Wyandottes on my back, it was funny. Then one of my other roos, Buddy, my Barred Cochin, decided he missed his mommy and he flew up onto my shoulder and was eyeballing Pip. I knew he was jealous, lol. I snuggled him and reminded him that I loved him very much too, and then I placed him on the roosting pole and stood up so the Wyandottes had to get down. Pip refused to leave my hands though. I think he thought he was coming back up to the house with me, lol. I think that once I have good fencing up, and I can let my birds sort of free range in my yard (under my supervision of course, I'm paranoid of arial predators!), Pip will be following my all the way up to the house and right in the front door. He is the absolute sweetest little thing, and by far my favorite bird. Sebrights are absolutely delightful. Tomorrow I'll have to find some more goodies to bring out to them. I can't wait to grow some sunflowers and watermelons...

 

[MrsChickendad]

I always cook extra spaghetti for the chickens because its such cheap entertainment! If you dump it in a pile they will snatch mouthfuls of it and run off with their prize, getting it all over themselves in the meantime. Hens looking at you with spaghetti draped over their combs is hysterical! If you feed it a piece at a time you will get mobbed.

We had leftover corn on the cob this week and the "teenagers" went nuts over it.

Oh, and they LOVE impatiens flowers. I had a flat sitting out ready to plant. Now I have a flat of green leaves.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:

I was thinking the same thing! I guess I'll have to cook some spaghetti for my girls. They are so much fun, and put you in a good mood.

 

[txbioteacher]

I can't wait!! Now I'll actually look forward to making spaghetti (since I don't particularly care for it). Great story!

 

[sarahsark]

Quote:

Be sure to snap some pics, please!

You just gave me a great idea for my own chickens tomorrow... I'm going to fix some spaghetti for my own girls and see how they like it. So far, I know they love plain Cheerio's, shredded cheese (mozzarella only, please!), oats, and, believe it or not, Veg-All straight out of the can (ick!).

 

[PeeperKeeper]

I agree with Mrs Chickendad. I've fed my chicks many (nutrious) treats, but spaghetti has got to be the most hilarious thing to watch them eat.
It has to be "al dente" other wise it just breaks into small pieces!

 

[daklander]

My wife planted mint in her front flower garden and it's trying to take over so I picked some for our chicks. They do not like it, at least not yet. Now, Dandelions? OH YEAH!