*mummy_hen* Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Want to get some more treats to give my new girls but don't know what else to try, so far they have had: * Tomato (not keen) * sweetcorn (absolutely LOVE) * Mixed corn (they like this) * Broccoli (also not keen) * tiny bit of marmite toast as read somewhere they like this and is good for ex-batts as marmite has something good in it but they didn't even know what this was and paid no attention to it at all Heard they like grapes so will try some of these but is there anything else that my girlies might like? Thanks, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 sausages! they love them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 sesame seeds sunflower seeds raisins/sultanas Natural bio yoghurt (especially nice on hot sunny days!) left over cooked rice left over mashed potato porridge oats (made with hot water not milk) with a scattering of raisins on top (nice on cold frosty days!) Tuna (rinsed in water) - good very occasionaly for extra protein (ideal for moulting hens) Spinach Lettuce Cucumber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Mine love sultanas most of all. Try all fruits except citrus. Mine also love white cabbage hung up in their run. Don't give them advocado it is poison to chickens Mealworms are another fave, but I have never tried these. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Huggers R Us Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Ours love jacket potato, pasta especially spaghetti ( look like worms) white pinkies ( small white maggots) grapes they adore and cherry tomatoes, toast and anything that we happen to be eating at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateP Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 - They really fight over grapes! - Raisins - Pumpkin seeds - cooked carrots and peas - cooked pasta and rice - weetabix mixed with water Just keep trying them with different things - they will let you know what they like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 how could I forget mealworms - a big favourite here. Mine also go potty for strips of millet seeds. They seem to like "seedy" stuff. Cold cooked pasta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 They LOVE grapes! Cooked rice makes mine sing while they eat! They liked porridge too but it made them lay soft eggs.... why eat mash when you can have porridge?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoop Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Our 3 cannot get enough of raisins and/or sultanas. It's the ONLY time all 3 will run up to me all at once clucking in anticipation of a died fruit! They LOVE them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New2this Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Just like to say that 'OMG your girls eat better than I do '! Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Slugs-the bigger and uglier the better.Many a riot has broken out when i give them huge beasties from garden! Marmite on toast causes same reaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Marmite on (wholemeal) toast has to be top of the pops for mine. They also devour mung bean sprouts very enthusiastically. They do like pasta, but it doesn't have much nutrional value, so mung bean sprouts are my preference even if it's not theirs. They do love sweet corn and cherry tomatoes a lot. Every flock of hens will probably decide for themselves what is desirable. One of the things mine first liked was a past before its best date wrinkly old apple. Today they turned their collective beaks up when I offered them a lovely unwrinkled apple. Grapes always go down well with mine (one of the easy to hand feed items), but porridge has always been scarfed up very quickly. One of the things I don't feed them but that they adore is bindweed! I am actually wondering how I can cultivate it when they've wiped out the few remaining strands! I do think that competition for the contents of a treat bowl makes them more likely to see anything as a treat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Hi, Mmmm treats . . rice . .absolutely love soft boiled rice softly cooked long green beans I noticed puffball says sausages, i thought they mustn't ever eat our meat or meat products? ( of course they could be vegetarian sausage) MsTilyhopesitdoesntrainsoheavilyallbankholidaymonday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 i thought they mustn't ever eat our meat or meat products? Defra don't advise it. I give mine organic cat food after a moult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Huggers R Us Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 As Ebony our newest girl is suffering from a dose "Greedy Gannet Crop" as is feeling rather full, I had read on here that olive oil might get things moving more readily for her. I snapped up some pieces of spaghetti and cooked them in the usual way and when cooled tossed them in some Italian extra virgin olive oil infused with Garlic, the girls absolutely adored them, and they slithered down a treat. I had read that garlic is also good for their digestive system. Anyway just a thought if anyone else would like to try it, the only drawback is they may have honk breath in the morning, YEUWWWWWWW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Anyway just a thought if anyone else would like to try it, the only drawback is they may have honk breath in the morning, YEUWWWWWWW! If you don't kiss them it won't matter ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Huggers R Us Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Yes, but who can resist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I would love a "proper" chicken farmer to read this - it's like a menu from a top restaurant! For the record ours love all kinds of cooked potato, left over roasties, mash, baked, also pasta, cooked carrots, whole raw cabbage, apples, pears, bananas, tuna (rinsed) sweetcorn, earthworms, slugs, flies (watching them catch them is a laugh) woodlice and of course mealworms. They've been known to steal smallest boys sandwich from his hand In fact ours are just gannets really, not chooks! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 mine adore grapes, melon, tomatoes, corn on the cob, greens and kale - at least they get their '5 a day' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 How spoilt they all are! I have reduced the amount of treats of late, I have a feeling mine are a little over weight and it just makes them noisier in anticipation for extra food. I'm not a complete meanie though, as I go up the garden I grab handfuls of weeds and a couple of small branches off the bushes and shove them in their wire feeder. They seem to go just as mad for these and must be good for them (and for my wallet). Only prob is, that when they free range they now head straight for their favourite bush and have all but strimmed the bottom half of leaves...it looks hilarious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...