Spoiled chickens?

[Moe Jr]

Hello!

My 8 month old birds are on layer feed with a handful of this or that tossed into their run for fun. But during this recent cold spell, I've been bringing them extra stuff--warm oats or grits, cooked ground meat, whatever I've got going in the kitchen--and they've loved it. Trouble is, it seems like they don't want their feed at all anymore. I go out each day and check the level in their feeder and it's like they aren't eating it--instead, waiting to see what good things I bring from the house. Did I screw this up? How can I get them back on their feed?

 

[sourland]

Sounds like they have you trained. Cut back on the treats, and they will have to eat their feed.

 

[FrostRanger]

A better alternative to oatmeal and grits is making a warm mash with their feed. That way they both get a warm treat but are still getting the nutrition they need from their feed

But yes, they are spoiled and they are getting full from the grits and oatmeal which isn't good as those don't have the nutrition they need

 

[Moe Jr]

A better alternative to oatmeal and grits is making a warm mash with their feed. That way they both get a warm treat but are still getting the nutrition they need from their feed

But yes, they are spoiled and they are getting full from the grits and oatmeal which isn't good as those don't have the nutrition they need

Thank you--that's a great idea! These are my first chickens and I'm learning as I go. The mama in me wants to indulge them but that gets to be a slippery slope.

 

[Moe Jr]

Sounds like they have you trained. Cut back on the treats, and they will have to eat their feed.

Thank you. Being new to this whole chicken thing, I feared I ruined normal food for them. :>