I had heard that chickens would eat oyster shells and herbs and stuff when they feel like they need them, but wasn't sure if I believed it. Until a couple weeks ago.
My eight year old (going on nine) hen, Dana, looked to be struggling in her molt. I had read that dry cat food has lots of protein which helps with molts (though I had never tried it before). So I grabbed a handful and fed it to her. She LOVED it! Pecked it out not my hand as fast as she could, and she doesn't normally enjoy handfeeding!
I started giving Dana a bit of cat food daily. A few days in another hen of mine, Annie, came up and ate some too. The next day I noticed her growing some pin feathers!
After about a week Annie lost interest in the cat food because she had a beautiful new set of feathers! Then Rachel started eating it, and sure enough, the next day she had pin feathers too!
In the past couple of weeks more of my chickens have gone on and off the cat food. Dana is still eating it and is looking rough, the poor girl.
So now my flock is living proof that cravings are real! Your body (and theirs) knows what you need!
My eight year old (going on nine) hen, Dana, looked to be struggling in her molt. I had read that dry cat food has lots of protein which helps with molts (though I had never tried it before). So I grabbed a handful and fed it to her. She LOVED it! Pecked it out not my hand as fast as she could, and she doesn't normally enjoy handfeeding!
I started giving Dana a bit of cat food daily. A few days in another hen of mine, Annie, came up and ate some too. The next day I noticed her growing some pin feathers!
After about a week Annie lost interest in the cat food because she had a beautiful new set of feathers! Then Rachel started eating it, and sure enough, the next day she had pin feathers too!
In the past couple of weeks more of my chickens have gone on and off the cat food. Dana is still eating it and is looking rough, the poor girl.
So now my flock is living proof that cravings are real! Your body (and theirs) knows what you need!
