Spoilt Brats - Fussy eating

[BabyBantam]

OK, so I know it's probably all my fault...
Been feeding my girls on a mix of dried meal worms, sunflower hearts, corn and layers pellets for a while now due to moulting and illness. The problem is, now everything/one is back to normal, my girls are refusing to eat anyhing other than the dried meal worms and sunflower hearts. They've been free ranging in the garden all weekend (which doesn't help as they sit in wait for peanut crumbs to fall from the birdfeeders), but during the week are in their run, so food consumption seems to be practically nothing!
I'm presuming some of their slight weight loss is due to the rate they are popping out eggs, but how on earth do I wean them off peaches and cream and back onto bread & water rations (if you know what I mean)?

 

[cuwiar]

I've got a similar problem BB!! Think I'm just going to have to go down the hard line route and hope they will start eating their 'porridge' rather than starve!!

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

Chickens, like children and other pets are cheeky! If they know you will give them the goodies if they hold out, they will hold out and chickens can hold out for days with out food as long as they have water! I would not give in and as long as they have fresh food and water. Let them 'starve', they will eat when they are hungry. Don't be under their thumbs!

 

[chrismahon]

I agree with Bertie. Give them feed and water and leave them to it and hope that none are so mardy they make themselves ill. Usually when one eats it the others will follow.

 

[BabyBantam]

Oh god, self control is NOT one of my strong points - so agrees my dog when staring at his bowl awaiting smoked salmon and scrambled egg when we have it Will do my best (she says now wearing a straight jacket & locking bird food in a vault)

 

[chrismahon]

When we get birds in they often don't eat for 3 days. Cockerel's are worse than hens. Its all very different here to what they are used to invariably. Wrong floor, different coop, strange outlook, different size run, no mates, different colour feeder and drinker, different feed. They soon forget before though and start eating what we give them -except Claude, he's the only one on mash after 2 weeks of trying pellets!

So save yourself a lot of trouble BB and give them basic rations. They will come round I'm sure.

 

[Marigold]

You might try giving them a mash with just pellets and warm water. They seem to like the texture and think it's a treat. then when they've got their appetite for pellets back, just decrease the amount of mash over a few days and leave them with the pellets. But you'll have to be strong about this and not feed them anything else or they've got you over a barrel. Go away, don't watch them, leave them to get on with it! Leave them in the run until luchtime so they are hungry for their proper food and then restrict their 'playtime' in the garden to two hours. They will then get the exercise and interest of freeeranging but will also eat what they should. A small handful of mixed corn when they go back in the run wouldn't hurt but I'd cut back on the high-protein mealworms and sunflowerr hearts for a while.

 

[Chuck]

You are in charge so take your responsibility ! Stop everything except pellets and a little corn if you feed it and don't let this situation occur again.