Single hen

[reggy81]

We have had our chickens almost 2 weeks now and to begin with they were happy eating their food from the containers (we have a cube), but this week they don't seem to be touching it and seem like they're waiting for something. We have let them free range a little bit and seem to go mad for the grass then as if there hungry. The first week we had them it was half term, so me and my son were out with them quite a bit and feeding them quite a bit of brocoli, grapes, corn etc. Is it possible that there just waiting for something else to eat which tastes more interesting and will soon get over it or do you think they might not like the food anymore?

[westleigh]

i only give mine treats in the afternoon when most of the pellets have gone,maybe they are getting abit fussy,hope this helps

[Egluntyne]

Sounds as if they are holding out for treats.

 

I'd keep them confined and feed only pellets and water for a few days till they get the hang of eating them again. They won't starve, and then only let them have treats in the afternoon.

[percydub]

Thanks, can i ask though, we use the feeder that came with the cube, so do we only part fill it or how do you know how much to give - we've been filling it right up each day - not much is touched from it - but we have 4 chickens, how much should we be feeding them? Thanks

[Plum]

If you are filling it each day they must be eating When I got my 3 a grub lasted a week but they get through it in a couple of days now they are laying. I don't refill until its nearly empty to stop them getting fussy over stale pellets. Like Egluntine says try keeping the treats down and they'll eat.

I found the hardest part was controlling the family to stop them giving them treats .

[Egluntyne]

Sounds as if they are eating if you are topping the grub up.

 

On average a laying hen will eat roughly 120g pellets daily. However, don't weigh this quantity out and times it by 4. The should have ad lib access to food and fresh water every day.

 

Hens who have not come into lay will eat far less.

[reggy81]

thanks for that, they are not all laying yet but i just realised that we havent changed their food just kept topping it up every few days so maybe it is a bit stale! I shall do that now and lay off the treats - although it is so funny watching them with grapes!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

although it is so funny watching them with grapes!!

 

Have you tried them on spaghetti? That's hilarious too . (Make sure it's "al dente" so it doesn't break too easily when they play tug of war with it .)

[Phoebe]

reggy81 wrote:

 

although it is so funny watching them with grapes!!

 

I find it quite scary ! Mine really fight over them, and peck me to death, so I avoid giving them now unless I really need them to do something they don't want to do !!

 

They definitely hold out for treats though - mine cut down their pellets consumption when broccoli leaves were on offer.