loumabel Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 I have recently rescued 6 ex batts and after a bit of a sticky start they seem to be settling in ok. I have had to seperate two and put them in a seperate eglu (lovely purple classic bargain on ebay!!) as they were being so severely bullied. All is now calm and they are all much happier with this arrangement. I would really like to give them some distractions in their WIR and I have tried hanging up peeled apples, lettuce, cabbages etc all to no avail, they completely ignore them. The only treats they are interested in are meal worms, they even turn there noses up at mixed corn. I feel it may help them to have some sort of activity to stop any pecking and bullying, any ideas?? My little bantams love all treats and love jumping up pecking various fruits and vegetable and I really want to get the ex batts interested too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Ex batts ave only had mash, so it takes them time to like treats... Give them time and they'll be scoffing everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Ex batts just dont know what treats are The trick is to make everything beak sized to start with, sweetcorn (individual bits not on a cob) would be a good start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 live mealworms...they wriggle which might be interesting to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 It took my three a while, I thought I was giving them a treat and they just looked at it or ran away! I use the same shallow metal dish for treats and they now get excited at the sight of the dish. Pasta is one of their favourites. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Jane Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 My ex-batts were a bit fussy at first and still can be even now. They love spaghetti but I don't think that really contains much in the way of nutrients, so the new girls don't get that yet. They never liked sweetcorn or cabbage or most fruits, but will eat oranges. Their absolute favourite "treat" is catfood - Maud knocked a dish of it out of my hand the other day in her eagerness and I cannot leave the kitchen door open. I'm sure someone on here recommended filling a treat ball with dried mealworms - I've not tried that myself, but keep meaning to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 [\quote] I'm sure someone on here recommended filling a treat ball with dried mealworms - I've not tried that myself, but keep meaning to. Ooooooooh what a great idea, I am definitely going to try that. Thanks x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Yep, mine love cat food too I have seen my poor cat physically pushed out of his bowl by an expectant beak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 My ex batts weren't that keen on treats either, and on the odd occasions I thought to hang something up in their run to keep them occupied they fled into the eglu and wouldn't come out! Meal works were their favourite but they did get into cooked broccoli, sweetcorn, pasta and jacket potatoes. I used to chuck some new potatoes in the microwave for a bit, nuke them, let them cool down, and make a little split in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
