jellykelly Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 My chickens just looked at them all (i didn't give them all this in one go) and carried on with their scratching!! I know they've never seen the likes of these things before - but you'd think they'd want to investigate!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Are they laying yet? My lot were not interested in much until they were laying and then they ate everything and anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Took mine ages to decide to investigate a peckablock but once I hung it on a tree they got the idea. The ex-batts have only just started eating treats (eg lettuce, mixed corn) but now they love them - took a few weeks, though. I'm sure someone more experienced will be along soon with better info and warn you about not giving them fat balls! Not good for chickens, apparently, or so I've read in several other threads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Mine didn't eat too much until they started laying, and even then it wasn't a lot. Then suddenly the weather got cold and they started eating like little horses! They now have two bowls of "porridge" a day - the first is heavy on the ex-batt crumb and light on corn and mealworms, the second has more treats in it plus a bit of crumb to bind it together. They eat all that, and pellets, and corn, and grapes, and anything they can get in the garden too! In the last couple of days, as it has got warmer, they are eating less. Don't worry if they aren't eating much, particularly if they aren't laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 They're ex batts. I collected them on saturday and just wanted to spoil them a little!!! I'll keep trying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Plenty of mealworms I say (try getting some live ones for them as this will help bring out their chickeny instincts ) Fatballs are a no no! Not good for them. My ex batts were reluctant with treats to start with - didn't associate it as food, but they watched and learned from my other girls and were soon trying to bite my hand off for grapes Mealworms are their favourites though, which is fab as they are high in protein which helps with re-feathering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 The mealworms were live!! When I checked back, I couldn't find them (the mealworms), so they'd either been eaten or wriggled off to safety!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Fingers crossed they were eaten, although if you have a sudden influx of beetles in your garden in a few weeks you'll know why Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 My ex batts tok a while to eat anything other than their layers mash but now they will try anything. I have to watch them when I give them mealworms especially live ones as they get very possesive over them. mine love sweetcorn and peas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 My girls didn't know what treats were either! They would just eat ex-batt crumb non-stop - only pausing to drink, then it was straight back to the feeder! It took about a week or two for them to twig and went to the other extreme - they now eat everything and anything that I bring in with me! Gloves, wedding rings, trousers, bum even their poo that I've picked up They're like little sharks, having investigatory nibbles It's best to take it slowly anyway, to give their tums chance to settle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 mine were the same - took them a while to figure it out, except for smarty pants Peeper who got the hang of grapes very quickly... like yours though, they look at anything hung up like it's just not there. if i peck at it for them with my finger in an encouraging manner ( ) they have a go for a minute and then wander off. totally agree with you about wanting to spoil them! mine get as much food as they can eat and a real mixture of seeds and worms and corn and porridge and veges and fruit peelings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I wouldn't give them fat balls. Too much saturated fat is not good for them. A few sunflower seed will give them a bit of warmth in very cold weather if this was the reason behind giving them the fat balls. When they start laying their appetites will quadruple and they will tackle all sorts of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I forgot to get Mealworms today, but my girls love Dandelion Leaves! They're mad for them, also Sunflower seeds and mixed corn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
