auntielizzie Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I am seriously beginning to consider weaning my two off treats completely - well maybe not completely, but just cutting them down to just ones which would be best in helping their health and egg making abilities. Am I right in thinking in that case that I should just stick to mealworms/worms and corn? and cut out carbohydrates such as pasta completely; should I stop grapes, tomatoes and other fruits? and just give occasional greens (or stop these as well). My reasons are: firstly, they are both constantly begging for treats, so it is not relaxing to be in the garden, especially with Betty doing sideways bungees constantly hurling at the the omlet netting Secondly, Betty's egg production I think is getting less as she seems to eat fewer and fewer pellets but goes so mental to get at the treats that Bessie hardly gets a look in and she is quite likely to do herself a mischief. Bessie incidentally does seem to be happily eating pellets (I have seen her) and is laying good eggs almost every day. As my OH has told me many many times, I've only got myself to blame and those chickens are spoilt Any advice appreciated. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixie chick Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Mine love mealworms best! And Garvo chicken treats when I can get them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 mine get morning bread soaked in warm water with chicken spice and think they are in seventh heaven ( though I am not so sure I should give bread) corn I feed only in the cold weather and last thing if possible so as to keep them warm overnight. My layers thieve the growers pellets if they get the chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 My lot get very few treats as there isnt time to faff about with so many birds They get wheat sometimes but in the main any treats they do get are greens, each time I pass a run I'll push a handful of dandilions through the mesh and a couple of times a week they get a load of greens (weeds or supermarket bought) One of the best things for the heath of a chook is grass really but mine dont have access to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I only give mine veg peelings, left-overs etc - I don't buy anything special. They don't need treats, but I use them to get them back in the run after they've been out, or as a bit of a distraction during days when they can't go out. I think quantity - not too much - is more important than what they get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 You are right, they will ignore their layers pellets if they know that they will be getting regular amounts of treats. I give mine green veg 3 or 4 times a week, and a handful of mixed corn or dried mealworms now and again, but nothing else. Layers pellets contain everything they need for a healthy diet, so I would definitely cut down on the treats if I were you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I have tried not to introduce mine to many treats. They do get a few mealworms and the odd grape at the end of the day by which time they have eaten lots of pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum-2-olly Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 i agree, i give my girls some greens or corn as a treat but only after 4pmish as a rule Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 i agree, i give my girls some greens or corn as a treat but only after 4pmish as a rule Me too - I always give at the end of the day - usually a handful of corn, or some mealworms or a handful of the treat mix that I buy in a tub at the garden centre (its a mix of corn with little shrimpy things in ) As a special treat they have the hulls of strawberries with a touch of the strawberry left on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 It sounds as though you have come full circle through enjoying their excitement at getting new things to eat to realizing there are more reasons to stop or limit treats (by that I mean anything other than pellets) than to continue. I did the same and now only give meal-worms either to get them back in the coop or occasionally before bed. As they are higher in protein (50%) than anything else they enhance their egglaying and this would be the one thing I would not stop as they love it and its so good for them. Mixed corn I give on cold evenings for slow release energy, given lots during the day they would eat this instead of pellets and therefore not get enough protein and lay less eggs as the corn is more oil and starch rich but very low in protein. If mine can't free range much I make sure they get greens, leaves like salad, spinach, cabbage , kale etc which are a very good source of vitamins and CALCIUM- and of course thats great for egg production. Very rarely mine get an apple/pear core or corn on the cob to demolish. Mine still come running when they see me in the garden, follow me around, peck at my fingers when I'm opening their run door but they do not pester me when I sit down with a cuppa anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 With my four they will always take a treat but we only really give them corn or currants (or any kind of dried grape, they love will run as fast as they can for) Perhaps part of the problem is routine, I always leave mine in the run in the morning so that they eat a decent amount of pellets and lay their eggs before going off to free range for the rest of the day, then they can pop in and out if they want more or not. Then we only really give them treats in the afternoon or evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 h2b tends to spoil the girls more than i, but only give a handful of corn at night, we had strawberries and cream last night, so they will have the strawberry tops tonight for a treat. but if i were you i would cut down and see how they are? Also i think grapes/raisins are very bad for hens, read alot of horror stories about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I don't give a lot of treats so they are calm around me. OH is the man with the sweetcorn etc so they go mental when they see him. I agree with you it stops being fun if they get too excited but it is fun to give them an occasional treat. If I was you I would make them go cold turkey for a week and no treats just pellets and green veg so they stop launching themselves at you. Then introduce treats like fruit, mealworm, corn etc in small amounts at times when they don't expect it and not every day. Like after you have been with them for 1/2 hr produce something hidden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I agree with the above, I'd cut down drastically, only offer treats occasionally late afternoon or evening and then stick to wheat/worms or greens. I only use treats to get them back in the run (wheat) or the occassional greenstuff as the main grass is quite poor right now, although there are loads of seedheads around in the long grass which they all seem to love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidders Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Mealworms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybaby Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Mine get all manner of things, especially if something is just past its 'use by date' in the fridge. I do mostly just feed mealworms and sweetcorn, mainly as a bribe to get them back in the run, but this morning they had left over cheesy coleslaw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Mealworms They are very rich in protein which helps moulting chickens. Also, if its a very very hot day i will hang up a thick chunk of cucumber from the fridge as it is an extra supply of water and keeps the chickens cool xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
