LaVidaGallina
In the Brooder
- Aug 11, 2017
- 20
- 13
- 34
I'm new to chicken keeping and have 6 hens about 6 months old. 4 out of 6 are laying regularly. For the past 2 months, in addition to their proper feed, I give them healthy treats. They have a huge coop and run, but not free ranging. So I feel they need little goodies to keep them occupied. I have flock block ( that is covered and given periodically), I sometimes give them a cucumber, flock cakes, frozen fruit, roses (they love!) and I had a ton of blueberries this year, so I've tossed in a few branches. I give them one of these above treats in the morning and then in the evening my husband and I sit on our bench in the run and enjoy giving them my homemade mix of mealworms, grubblies, oats, raisens and sunflower seeds. Before I forget, sometimes I even toss them a fresh salad with greens, carrots, cucumbers, blueberries and top with flax seed. I know, I must have too much time on my hands.....
Well, these little spoiled girls are not eating their feed now. I recently changed from crumbles to pellets and mixed them together, but they are holding out for something better, because I've been reading that too many treats are not good. Only 5% of their diet should be something other than their required feed. My question is this.... Is it right that I have stopped all treats, cold turkey, LOL?
I'm trying to get them to eat their feed, and when I see them doing so on a regular basis, then I can reintroduce treats, but on a very limited basis. I discovered all of this just as I started growing fodder for them, which will be ready to feed in about 5 days. It's so hard, because I love the excitement they have when they see me coming, knowing I'm bringing goodies, but more importantly, I want them to be healthy. What do you think, fellow chicken mothers???
Well, these little spoiled girls are not eating their feed now. I recently changed from crumbles to pellets and mixed them together, but they are holding out for something better, because I've been reading that too many treats are not good. Only 5% of their diet should be something other than their required feed. My question is this.... Is it right that I have stopped all treats, cold turkey, LOL?
I'm trying to get them to eat their feed, and when I see them doing so on a regular basis, then I can reintroduce treats, but on a very limited basis. I discovered all of this just as I started growing fodder for them, which will be ready to feed in about 5 days. It's so hard, because I love the excitement they have when they see me coming, knowing I'm bringing goodies, but more importantly, I want them to be healthy. What do you think, fellow chicken mothers???
But balance is definitely key and too many low protein or high fat snack can throw it out of whack which could cause health or behavioral issues. Mostly keep it simple. 
And there is an FF thread here with lot's of people who do it if you have questions plus feel free to ask me. Even that sometimes takes a few days for the birds to adjust to, again because they are creatures of habit and it's new. While some may dig right in. Each bird so far is an individual. Usually once they figure out it's feed they're all about it.
