tracyann Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hi, as you know I got my lovely girls yesterday, they are 17 weeks old and on layers mash. I have some mixed corn which I'm giving them a handful once a day, what other titbits/kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s will be safe for them to have a peck at? I want to give their environment as much enrichment as I can. Is a bit of garden earth in a cat litter tray ok as a dust bath? Will the worms cause them any harm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 mine are very partial to mixed bird seed and especially love the suet berry pellets that you can buy for wild birds (although I dont give them too many as they will be big fatties!). They also go mental for mealworms which you can buy dried in tubs or (if feeling brave) live at some poultry/pet suppliers. Regarding worms, mine love rooting around in freshly turned earth for the worms and if they are lucky enough to catch a big fat juicy slug complete madness ensues! I also give them fresh greens when I can and they adore grapes too. The list is endless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 The worms won't be around long - they'll eat them. Yummy Chickens also love mealworms. They are great for bribery; both the dried ones that you get for wild birds, and the live ones bought from Wiggly Wigglers but the latter are, well, My chooks also love a half coconut hung up from a string, quite low which they can peck at and generally toss about. They also enjoy brussel sprouts on the stalk (but take little notice of them when they are not on their stalk). Other dainties include grapes, blueberries, uncooked spinach leaves and rocket. I also give them tiny bits of pasta, shortbread, cottage cheese and mashed potato which they love but as they are rather fattening I try to keep amounts strictly limited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 They'll love the worms in the dust bath. I wouldn't go too over board with treats until they start laying. They'll need all the goodness from their pellets, which they won't eat if they are tucking into s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Greens in any form are good to hang in the run - cabbage, cauli leaves( fave of mine), brussel sprout leaves ( least fave of mine ) dandelion leaves in spring/summer. Mine also have boiled carrot peel ( they won't eat it uncooked)and other cooked veges, they love bread soaked in water and mashed potato, but don't have too much of them, apple cores, too ripe bananas, all other fruit ( but not citrus), they can also have meat s"Ooops, word censored!"s ( not chicken though ) but mine only get veges as the dogs have first dibs on any meat leftovers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybaby Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Mine eat anything and everything.......this morning they had left over nan bread from the curry I had on Sunday with raisins mixed in. They also go completely crazy for mealworms, sweetcorn, bread, tuna....the list is endless really. Worms and slugs they s"Ooops, word censored!"e up in the garden are also a particular favourite! They are having a lot of scrambled egg at the moment because one of my girls has recenly been on Baytril and that is going down a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 All of the above its worth bearing in mind that its illigal to give them kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s! Nothing wrong with giving food that are not left over scaps though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-real-tinkerbell Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 lol my chooks eat what we eat ,my kids s"Ooops, word censored!"e their dinner plates in to a chicken bowl lol i dont give them any meat but everything else they get but they dont get them till tea time so they have filled up with layer pellets first mine love roast spuds and yorkie puds lol,not that kis ever leave much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Mine are very partial to porridge (either heated, with water as we'd eat it - if it's a bit cold outside), or just as porridge oats. They go mad for bits of banana too - and blueberries and grapes. You'll probably find that they'll largely be suspicious of anything you give them right now, other than the food they're used to. At some point, one brave hen will start sampling the new food and once the others see it's ok, they'll want some too Over time, as they get to know you more, they'll start chasing you for food, eating pretty much anything out of your hand etc. Mind you, that's not always convenient! Last year I had a hen launch herself at a cup of coffee I was carrying! (I managed to move out of the way in time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 You'll probably find that they'll largely be suspicious of anything you give them right now, other than the food they're used to. At some point, one brave hen will start sampling the new food and once the others see it's ok, they'll want some too I remember first giving mine an apple...it nearly sent them into orbit!!! I then cut it into halves and the smell was obviously too tempting!!! Over time, as they get to know you more, they'll start chasing you for food, eating pretty much anything out of your hand etc. Mind you, that's not always convenient! Last year I had a hen launch herself at a cup of coffee I was carrying! (I managed to move out of the way in time). Yeah, I had a similar incident....only, with a freshly BBQ'd piece of sirloin steak!!!!!!!! She leapt up and snatched a piece straight off my plate.... ...thankfully, it wasn't the whole steak...and she didn't get far with it!! I grabbed her and took it off her....and yes, ate it!!! Never give up good steak without a fight...!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 A few days ago I tried giving my chooks some cut up bits of mushroom. There was mayhem. They came running from all corners of the garden. I think that they thought that I was offering them slugs because after grabbing the bits from me, and throwing them about, they then left them un-eaten. It made me laugh because though my OH loves mushies, I've never been keen on cooked mushrooms and have always referred to them as 'slugs'. Clearly the chickens thought as I did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 My girls are always partial to a little sweetcorn cob or cabbage swingball. As well as any raisins, grapes, strawberries, melon, apple cores, cooked potato peelings, tomatoes and any other veg they can get their beaks into. (Not too much though as they can get a runny tummy from too much of it). Mealworms, both dried or live send them crazy so i have to watch my fingers! Rarely they get spaghetti, but when they do they must think each strand is a worm cos they'll steal it out of each others beaks. Sometimes I'll cook up some of their eggs and give it to them scrambled with a little cod liver oil in it. Mine also think cooked mushrooms are slugs! Before the girls were in lay they weren't that interested in all of the above though, not until their appetites increased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Quite honestly it would be easier to compile a list of what they wont eat Mine regulary defy the defences and rush the kitchen to steal the cats food one even attacked my poor cat pulling out a beakfull of fur before I could stop her the cats are now terrified of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
