My hen won't eat the feed, only treats.......

[dweder]

Is the answer to my problem the obvious??? Do I honestly have to stop feeding treats completely just to get one of my hens to eat her proper food? She has stopped laying, only eats treats and has lost her pecking order status completely. She moves slowly, gets picked on at roost time and only picks at the treats. It is clear her diet has become imbalanced.

How long do I stop treats? OMG that will be very hard when I know how much they look forward to them every day.

Your stories.....

 

[terrilhb]

Don't know the answer but I will help you bump up. Good luck

 

[gmendoza]

Mine dont get treats every day. once a week is good. They have a variety of home grown bugs here,and comming spring the cicadas,the grub worms,the black swallertail,and the cave crickets will be their fiesta daily.

But they need to learn to eat their laying mash.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, now you've done it! You've spoiled her rotten.

Actually, the hen is not the issue, the issue, of course is.... dare i say it? you.

Her diet is now so poor that her body has shut off egg production. At this rate, her life expectancy will sink like a rock in the pond.

How's that for tough love? I am so, so sorry to have been so blunt.

 

[gritsar]

You'll be surprised how much they like their layer feed once the treats are no longer an option.

When they give you a bad case of stinkeye for failing to bring them treats, try throwing a handful of their layer feed on the ground. Everything tastes soooo much better when it goes directly from your hand to the ground.

 

[magoochie]

Is she sick? Has she always been slow? If she never got picked on before and now she is, i think something might be wrong.

 

[Uzuri]

That sounds awfully like something else is wrong. Can you separate her and put her under close observation and only with access to feed? Good treats may tempt someone who's otherwise too ill to eat.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Given her other maladies, it does indeed sound as if she needs separation and observation.

All kidding aside.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

It is possible that she is sick, but also please rule out the need for two feeders. Sometimes hens low on the pecking order will not be allowed to visit the feeder.

I just sold recently a group of hens that wouldn't allow my Easter Eggers to eat.

Really! The only way they got food was to get it when I threw it on the ground FAR away from the top hens, or sneak to the feeder when no one was noticing.

 

[dweder]

I recently seperated her for a short while and observed. No visible signs of anything. Im at a total loss.....

Fred's Hens comments has confirmed my worry.......

Should I seperate her for longer until she eats her layer feed?