Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Henergy]

I always give layers pellets in the morning but have been trying different things as treats. Problem is they don't seem to like anything except raisins !!!

 

I've tried corn, tomatoes, apple, broccoli, apricot, strawberry tops, cooked spaghetti - but not impressed with any of it. (Annoyed about the corn as got a huge bag !!!) They onlything they do like is yoghurt !

 

Is it because maybe they are not quite settled yet (1 week at home) ?

[Plum]

The corn will not go to waste just wait for a bit and they'll kill for it. Take it easy on raisins though they can sit in the crop so I usually chop in half and just give a few bits very occasionally, they will do anything for them including remove my fingers

[karlotta]

Chickens often turn their beaks up at things the first time you offer them... every single one of my lot LOVE corn so I can't imagine your bag will be full for long!

[Sammiboo]

keep trying the same things for a while. mine wouldnt eat anything as a treat to begin with, boiled potatoes, mashed up boiled carrots etc... got them on boiled rice, then mash now they are eating grapes, banana, nann bread....

[percy049]

our new ones aren't too keen on mixed corn yet, but go absolutely go bonkers for mealworms (especially alive ones!)

[daxigirl]

Mine like cold baked beans, rice with a bit of marmite stirred in (you have to add it while the rice is still hot), tomatoes, couscous, chopped pasta, bacon rind (hilarious), chopped up grapes, hanging corn on the cob & cabbage, didn't object to a bit of grapefruit (you know when it's cut in half) mashed potatoes & porridge made with oats type and of course raisins, mealworms and sunflower kernels.

 

They don't like apples or potato skins or my Nigella breakfast bars (the dogs do though).

 

They have also caught their own treats of frog and mouse, managed to rescue the toad.

[nikkichick]

mine go mad for a bit of marmite on toast (cut into soldiers) and gingernut biscuits.

 

You could try mixing the yoghurt in with the pellets? mine like pellets in warm mash?!

[Sammiboo]

glad i am not the only one who goes OTT!!! i was feeling like i might be loosing the plot when i made the girls mashed carrots and parsnips and added butter to it so it would taste nicer for them

[Henergy]

Tried a bit of cucumber - no luck.

They did enjoy a bit of marmite on toast & mealworms.

I'm now rationing the raisins & only using to coax them back into the coop !

[Benaberry]

Mine go crazy for corn, also for cabbage/other greens hung up in a feeder (we've got a round metal thing meant to have numerous fat balls in it for wild birds, but it hangs nicely on the side of the run and is great for stuffing with leaves!)

 

other favourites with them - slugs, snails, caterpillars and worms...my original girls (that mostly turned out to be boys) thought they were in heaven last summer when they escaped and got into the cabbage-white caterpillar infested cabbage patch!

[Chortle Chook]

If they like yoghurt they might like cottage cheese. Mine love it.

Then try a little yoghurt in with mashed potato. It is all just a case of getting them used to different foods (a bit as if they were children). And, yes, that corn will go. You'll have to put them on a diet in not time

[andyandamy]

I've found their tastes can turn quite quickly - once one decides they like something, they all suddenly do!

 

I was digging the garden recently and offered my 2 girls a small worm I'd unearthed - not interested in the least Eventually one of them did try it, and found it was actually quite tasty. Then the other wanted in on the action too.

 

By the end of the end of the day they were both jostling around my spade racing to hoover up any and all wriggly things brought to the surface. A worm tug-of-war between two chickens is a sight to behold

[gongladosh]

Ours go bonkers over bananas and blueberries.

 

Our , Kiki loves big juicy worms - she'll eat them in one but our Sussex Bantam, Houdini likes to chop them up into even lengths before eating

[Malkalv]

Mine were the same way. They only wanted raisins and mealworms. They will eat strawberries and blueberries now.

 

I read in Urban Farm (American Hobby Magazine) that they liked low fat cottatge cheese. Much to my suprise, mine loved it. They also go nuts for boxed maccaroni and cheese which i tend to limit because of the sodium in some of the mixes.

[Chortle Chook]

Our , Kiki loves big juicy worms - she'll eat them in one but our Sussex Bantam, Houdini likes to chop them up into even lengths before eating

Beginning to feel I should set up a worm rescue. Now there's a thought

[Sammiboo]

my girls just like to watch worms... I swear they are racing them and have bets on

[4Clucks-minusOne]

Mine love dry jumbo oats but only eat normal oats when it's out for the Robin. They love pasta, rice,blitzed raw carrot and cabbage, grapes but leave raisins. There favourite game is eating woodlice from the underside of rocks and stones that OH has turned over for them.