What are your chickens' favourite treats?

[TroyerSis]

I haven't had any problems feeding whole or rolled (I add rolled oats to ducklings' feed to lower the protein level), but you should do what you feel comfortable with. There's a BYC thread discussing feeding oats here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/692659/whole-oats-as-chicken-feed.

I fed the hens some oats today and they haven't died yet

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Warm oats are hydrated and prepared so no risk of bloating. As far as dry goes, just using deductive reasoning... a bird eating some oats probably would't be much of an issue. But if they filled themselves to the brim then drank some water I could see how the sudden swelling of the dried grain could cause some discomfort or maybe worse complications.

She may be happy by herself for a few (I can totally get that).... adding a new flock member or two will be an added stress for her most likely. I'm just not sure if it's better to get it over with all at one time instead of sending her for another loop down the road. Those are some of the more difficult decisions we have to face unfortunately. And we all have different feelings and thought processes, even the birds.... So I guess I would say go with your gut (sometimes more than the heart) and do whatever you feel might be best for you both.

As callus as it sounds, new chicks can be slightly healing to heart.

Best wishes!

 

[jodieevaughan]

I have never fed them oats so of course I have no idea if there was any truth the what I read at all! Logically though you do sound right about them eating lots and drinking being a potential issue.
I do think I will go ahead this morning with getting her a companion, she acts differently on an evening when she goes into the shed. She's squashed right into the corner, and I assume she'd feel more relaxed at night if she's not alone after the fox attack, if she even thinks of it of course!

 

[newhenintown]

I have always fed my chickens dry oats. I just throw a handful in the run and they go crazy for it. I've never had any problems. If you decide to try it use old fashion oats NOT quick oats. I have mixed the oats with wet feed before as a treat and the oats didn't swell up just softened a little. Maybe its the quick outs that would swell being that they're supposed to be for us humans in a hurry.

 

[chickens really]

Hello,

A great snack for Chickens is squash....Cut it into fours and give her and her new friend a piece.....they will peck away all day....

What she really needs is just fresh water and regular feed.....



Cheers!

 

[TroyerSis]

Our chickens love corn and oats

 

[jodieevaughan]

Thank you!! you are all very helpful. I added just a smidge of oats to their feed earlier so we'll see if they actually like it!
This is totally unrelated, but I got Mimi 2 companions this morning, and for some reason they were fixated on pecking the plastic bins (that contain some of the feed)

It was kind of weird, like a chicken band! I assume they were just playing?!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you!!

you are all very helpful. I added just a smidge of oats to their feed earlier so we'll see if they actually like it!
This is totally unrelated, but I got Mimi 2 companions this morning, and for some reason they were fixated on pecking the plastic bins (that contain some of the feed)

It was kind of weird, like a chicken band! I assume they were just playing?!

We had a group of chicks that pecked the brooder wall a bunch and we nick named them the Psychos.

They could have been playing the tune "hammer in the mornin', hammer in the evening, hammer at supper time"...

 

[Minalikesyou]

I'm so sorry that happened! My hens absolutely adore cheese, they will literally grab it from my hands they love it so much. Other treats they often love are oatmeal, broccoli, watermelon (they even eat the rine!), tapioca pudding (its high in calcium), apples w peanut butter, live mealworms (you can buy them at any petstore), tea (they prefer green tea), and plain yogurt. I hope she enjoys some of these! I wish you two the best!

 

[kconley]

My chickens get almost all kitchen scraps! Everything in moderation, so they don't get too fat, but it's a nice supplement to their feeds.

In cooler weather, we give them warm oatmeal. They get sweet feed treats in the summer. Meat is good protein. Greens, bugs, fruits (except citrus, they don't go for that), veggies, bread- chickens aren't picky snackers!