Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: JORGE on May 17, 2013, 13:37
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Hi just looking for ideas of treats I can give to my hens.... I introduced them to "meal worms" and "fishing maggots" which they all love but conscious I don't want them to get bored....any other suggestions?
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A handful of budgie or finch tonic mixed seed will keep them busy for a while is you scatter it in and around a thick shrub/ dwarf conifer . :)
They have to work hard to find the tiny seed .
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I would keep the meal worms and maggots to a minimum as they are full of protein and could cause problems.
A small amount of mixed corn or seed as 8doubles said scattered is a good way to stop boredom. If they have plenty of space they usually don't need much to keep them occupied. A cabbage hung up for them to peck at is good as it helps them absorb calcium and is so funny to watch. ;)
Even a handful of their layers pellets scattered is more appetising to them as long as none is left to get wet as mould will form within a day.
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My hens went mad for a slice of pumpkin hung up on a bit of string. Once they got the hang of dodging the flying pumpkin, they devoured it in a flash! They also liked the seeds so a handful of pumpkin seeds keeps them occupied.
They also like natural yoghurt as a special treat although they manage to get it all over their tufty heads (like paintbrushes!) and have white beaks for a little while. Makes me laugh anyway :D
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when walking to my plot i collect a handful of nettles(gloves on)and dandelion leaves and throw them in they love em ,sometimes scatter some corn around and sometimes some mealworms i try differ something everyday ,probably spoiling them but they look happy and as soon as they hear my gate open they at there gate lookin for me lolol
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Farmandpetplace sell a product called 'chicken treat'. It is made up of seeds, wheat, corn........ my hens go loopy for it.
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Old apples/pears... (you know the ones you carry to and from work with the good inentions of a healthy snack!!)
Don't give mine many treats, but they do have a good chance to rummage around the garden...
Hannah :)
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Anything you can hang up is good as it takes longer to finish. If you hang it just out of reach so they have to work at getting it.
You can hang whole heads of broccoli cauliflower cabbage swede whole sweetcorn. Hard vegetables seem to hang better.
I empty the contents (if theres any left) of the bird feeders from our aviary at the end of the week. It's most likely all husks but it keeps them entertained trying to sift out any little morsel that may have been left.
They do go a bit giddy for pumpkins, they cant leave them alone.
Mine turn their beaks up at carrots and peppers, unless they think the rabbit is getting it and they suddenly show a bit of interest.
I'm a bit tight when it comes to treats for the chucks. They get all the nutrients from the pellets and they get to free range.
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Mine love sliced apple, dandelion leaves and tinned sweetcorn, I have never seen anything eaten so fast!!! they also love grapes but are not too keen on green veg. I tend to leave large stones or pieces of wood on the field and first thing in the morning, or when it is a bit damp, I roll them over and they go mad for the worms and insects.
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Old apples/pears... (you know the ones you carry to and from work with the good inentions of a healthy snack!!)
Aha! I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds shrivelled apples in the bottom of my work bag :lol:
My special treat for the girls is grapes. I buy them some about once a month.
My daughter has a lizard. When I take the box of crickets outside to take some out for the lizard, I literally have to fight the chickens off, as soon as they see the box I keep them in, they go mad.
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mine get any extra rice, macaroni, spagetti I have ledft over (always put a bit too much in the pan)
Then they get any dandelions I find, weeeds and seed heads, a handful of mixed corn thrown in keeps em busy for a while, and yes a hanging cabbage is good, never tried a pumpkin though, so that is something new to try (do I cut it in half ? the skin is a bit thick for them to get through)
Nope mine wont touch carrots or peppers either
But I dunno if you could call it a treat, but they get layers mash as a porridge for breakfast every day, and that lsts less than an hour (I mix up ground egg shells and oyster shell grit in that)
They also go out and ruin the lawn for a couple of hours each day and hunt in the bushes :)
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I just slice the top off the pumpkin and they do the rest. By the time they have done with it, it looks like a deflated football.
It lasts a few days
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I just slice the top off the pumpkin and they do the rest. By the time they have done with it, it looks like a deflated football.
It lasts a few days
Great I'm off to get a couple now, and I'm going to hang it up (with the cabbage, cauliflower and broccili its looking like a vegetarians Christmas :) )
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my chickens' favourite treat is tinned sweetcorn. I can even get them to take their verm-x worming pellets (which they hate) if it is mixed up in pureed sweetcorn!
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my chickens' favourite treat is tinned sweetcorn. I can even get them to take their verm-x worming pellets (which they hate) if it is mixed up in pureed sweetcorn!
You have to be careful with tinned vegetables in case they have added salt which is not good for poultry. If it is just in water it will be fine. ;)
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Don't worry ANHBUC, I only ever buy the 'no added sugar or salt' variety! :)
I have also found that they love fresh pineapple too, but don't give them too much or it makes their poo go runny! :(
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Don't worry ANHBUC, I only ever buy the 'no added sugar or salt' variety! :)
I have also found that they love fresh pineapple too, but don't give them too much or it makes their poo go runny! :(
:lol: You don't want that, it is a nightmare to clean up.
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Please remember that it is illegal to give your birds any scraps from your kitchen if you live anywhere in the EU. This includes excess spaghetti etc.
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my chickens' favourite treat is tinned sweetcorn. I can even get them to take their verm-x worming pellets (which they hate) if it is mixed up in pureed sweetcorn!
I hate to be the bringer of bad news BUT Verm-x is not a wormer, it used to be advertised as one but has had to change the labels as their products are just a herbal 'gut conditioner' remedy.
The only licensed and effective product for worming chickens is Flubenvet.
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Please remember that it is illegal to give your birds any scraps from your kitchen if you live anywhere in the EU. This includes excess spaghetti etc.
So we keep being reminded, but they will get our scraps and any excess food :)
(an illegal is still a sick bird)
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Remember anybody including DEFRA can read all the messages on here. We as a forum have to abide by the law which is why we keep pointing out the law to you all. DEFRA even went to the trouble of putting this law into plain English in an email to me so that there can be no ambiguity as to what the law is for everybody in the EU.
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Remember anybody including DEFRA can read all the messages on here. We as a forum have to abide by the law which is why we keep pointing out the law to you all. DEFRA even went to the trouble of putting this law into plain English in an email to me so that there can be no ambiguity as to what the law is for everybody in the EU.
Fully appreciated, but my hens and eggs are for me and me alone, I dont sell birds, I dont sell eggs, they are for my own personal use, my hens are in good condition and healthy,
Until I get a DEFRA agent knock at my door I shall carry on (no offence intended)
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it doesn't matter if they are just for you it is still illegal to feed any scraps from a private or a business kitchen to any livestock, and whether you think of your hens as pets or not they are still classed as livestock in the eyes of the law.
Please do not keep arguing this point.
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For any of you who feel this may be wrong then please take a few minutes to read this post:-
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=100729.0
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not arguing any point, I am responsible for my own actions or in actions
AND my vet doent seem to have any problems with what I am feeding them and I do like to think he is rather more qualified than you
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You've been asked to stop arguing the point, now you're being told.
It's not a matter of being qualified to say what is or isn't good to feed hens, the forum has a responsibility to stick within the law.
That is what is being pointed out to you.
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There are many things that are against the law, but people still do break them, but they dont get reminded all the time
I have just stated my opinion (I guess I am still allowed to state that or have one here ?)
The topic was what do you give your chooks treats, I have told what I give mine, there was no drama's, I never started the argument, I just responded to joyfulls reply
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Your vet obviously doesn't know the laws then, so if you would like to send me his/her address I will send them a copy of the laws from DEFRA. I am obviously more up to date with them than your vet is.
Any more arguing on this point and the post will be locked which is a shame because the original poster was asking for help.
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I have just stated my opinion (I guess I am still allowed to state that or have one here ?)
You are allowed your own opinion, of course, but keep it to yourself - do not advocate anything illegal on this forum. That keeps things simple............................
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Sorry joyfull, I wont be sending you anything,
I am happy with my vet and his services, yes you maybe upto date on the law, (but so are the police) but it doesnt stop any laws being broken and it wont stop my hens enjoying scraps, rice, macaroni or spagetti (which is cooked for them apart from the times we cook extra)
I would rather feed my hens with it (scraps) than put it in the bins the council provides and empties every 2 weeks (unless they are opened and scattered by foxes)
Yes it would be a shame to lock the topic (but I dont lock topic, that is upto the admin)
Yes I got a few tips from this topic, (about the pumpkin)
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You didn't understand simple so I'm locking the thread because you are still talking about breaking the law!
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any fruit and veg that my hens get never ever goes into my house - they are either bought from the shops and given to my hens straight away (this includes pumpkins, melons and sweetcorn) or are grown by me and again are given without ever entering the house.This way I am not breaking any laws.
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Any body interested in suitable treats please read this (http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=105545.0)