What’s wrong with my pullets?! They will hardly try any fresh fruit or veggie scraps

[imnukensc]

They just don't know what it is yet. It takes them a while. Offer them one thing at a time. When they decide they like it, offer something else. Once they get used to something they'll be wanting to take it out of your hands. Don't offer a smorgasbord until they (and you) know what they like.

 

[Henrybelle]

Sick! A mouse?! Bugs yah I get that. That normal but I don’t think I’d like to see my birds eating little pink mice! I mean I’m sure it happens but no thanks lol!

But that does bring another question to mind we’ve got tons of lizards around here. will they chase and eat small ones? Not that I’d rather see that just curious if it okay or it will make them sick.

 

[Henrybelle]

I’d found a dead one ( tiny) smashed from the door and dried up on the porch I was wondering if they had tried to eat it if it would be harmful. I threw it over the fence

 

[Seaecho]

They don't recognize what you're giving them as being food. But once one of them tries it, the others catch on right away. Like someone else said, just give them time.

 

[imnukensc]

Watched one of my hens eat a snake the other day. Slurped it down like a wet noodle. They'll be fine if they catch and eat a lizard.....or a mouse. They're just little dinosaurs.

 

[Henrybelle]

They are definitely Dinos! we call them that all the time, like the little ones from Jurassic Park 2 I think? Ok thanks for the reassurance!

 

[JewelBirds]

Yes they'll chase and eat mice. Almost better than cats in that way lol. I am not sure if they will eat lizards (probably), but my hen Azalea ate some sort of newt or salamander. I didn't see much of it, just the tail and back legs because she was already swallowing it whole. It was a little disturbing but she digested it fine and had no problems. They also catch frogs.

Yeah they are like little dinosaurs (they're related to the T-rex). In fact I named some of my chickens after those raptors in Jurassic Park (Blue, Echo, Charli, and Delta).

 

[chickendreams24]

Rofl

You can see it in the raptor run. Lol
True or not they don't know. Maybe they've been watching Jurassic Park through the living room windows. Lol

Man the way they go at a mouse although not all my chickens like mice. Toads too! It's kind of sick and I used to try to take them away but we don't have anything like cane toads here. I know they are bad for dogs but they don't seem to bother the chickens.

While it's kind of sick and twisted they love to play keep away and tug of war with the prizes they find. They will not attack or eat rats in my experience though. Even dead rats which is fine as last year our coop was invaded by rats and they were predatory and killed many juveniles and an adult hen so we had to poison them as nothing else was making a dent. In fact if the animal doesn't move they don't want it. I personally wish they'd go after gophers as they are always eating my broccoli but they don't. Then again our gophers get huge!

Our chickens have never found a snake but most of our birds love worms and grubs. It's funny because not all of our chickens will eat a mouse not all will eat a worm etc. They each have their own likes and dislikes.

my favorite hen Pebbles, an EE, and an incredibly good forager and very predator savvy hen hates sunflower seeds. She turns her beak up at BOSS and looks at me like I'm nuts. After a while she may eat a couple, or just walk away, often she jumps up on my arm and asks for something better. I admit Pebbles is spoiled and usually gets her way. LoL

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Same as the others have already said. My chicks had no interest in anything other than chick crumble until they werd around 8 weeks. Then they ate some lettuce...just a little and left most of it. They are 12 weeks now ans still turn up their beaks at most scraps. The only thing they have completely demolished was a slice of cantaloupe. They ate it clear down to the rind. I threw in strawberries last night and they took a few pecks, but left most of them.

 

[Jamie Molihan]

Same. My girls are not the least bit interested in any treat I have offered them, except the live worms, then it’s a massacre with lists of excitement and chicken dancing; the worms just go flying everywhere. It’s kind of freaky.