Very Picky Eater

[CalMiniFlock]

I have had a RIR for a few months, she is approximately 5 months old and she will not eat the feed which is whole grain feed. She does eat kale and shell-less sunflower seeds mainly. Occasionally cucumber. I have tried many other foods, without success. I don't think she is getting proper nutrition and am concerned. Other girls in the past have never had a problem with the feed. Any suggestions?

 

[Kiki]

Stop offering so many different treats and she will learn to eat the feed.
Is this whole grain feed a complete feed for chickens?
If so have your tried to ferment it and see if she will eat it that way?

 

[Kiki]

Also...do you free range?

 

[CalMiniFlock]

Their base feed is "Scratch & Peck Feed" to which I've added other grains in hopes of finding more that she will eat. For about the first 2 months I didn't offer hardly any other items, but she wouldn't eat it even though she was hungry. I have not fermented, don't really know how but I'm sure I can find out how to do it. I had to stop free ranging as I lost so many girls, I live out in the country, next to a national forest. Thank you for you input!

 

[Kiki]

Try this:
https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

It's very simple and worth a try to see if she may eat it.
Basically just soak some feed in water for a day or two or three...depends on your "air"/temps on how quick it will ferment.

 

[CalMiniFlock]

Thanks, I've mixed a batch. Hopefully it will work for her.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks, I've mixed a batch. Hopefully it will work for her.

I hope so too.
If not you may want to get a different brand of feed.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I wouldn't mix in other grains, that's just diluting the added vitamins and minerals.
Whole grain feeds are better to feed moistened or fermented, because the added vitamins and minerals are a powder and fed dry much of the powder never gets consumed. GC

 

[Kiki]

Have you tried the soaked feed yet today?

 

[CalMiniFlock]

Sorry for the delay in answering! Well, sadly they did not like it. I'm going to try pellets,
hopefully it comes in organic. Oddly, the RIR is eating more feed and my injured Leghorn
is now the one who is not eating feed. She hurt her leg somehow and it's very slow healing. I may locate a vet who sees chickens, as the Leghorn has lice from the numerous
squirrels in this area that would break into her large coop. I've moved her to a smaller, more secure coop. I have carefully used DE on her but they are not completely gone.