Chickens will eat almost anything. With the operative word being "almost". There are a few things that my chickens technically should love, but collectively turn their beaks up at.
So every once in a while I'll be bringing you episodes of "Will They Eat it".
Please enjoy.
Will They Eat It
The first instalment of the new series, Will They Eat it? What will the chickens eat?
Stay tuned for more episodes of "Will They Eat it?" in the future.
"Santa" put a bag of Freeze Dried Mealworm Treats (yes, they really sell these) in my stocking for my 3 hens. WOW! This was the best Christmas ever for the hens; they LOVED them. Too pricey to give out all the time, but every now and then it's fun. I didn't know chickens could smile!
I have 3 chicken coops. In 2 of them live easy going hens. Rooster says eat, hens eat. No problemo. In the 3th coop however, we have the Lakenvelder hens (black and white hens, google knows 'm best), and they don't care what the rooster says, they don't like weird chunky human food. Apple is ok, but only if you cut it in tiny pieces. Bread is ok, but only in crumbs. Any other human food is out of the question. You can try to feed it, but they will complain. Loud and clear.
I saw this on another blog today and I immediately thought of you, Karen. Don't know if you've seen it. A chicken coop calendar! Free download! Check it out:
http://www.goscoutcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FebCalendar.pdf
Hi Karen,
When I read the title 'Will they eat it?' I thought uh oh - chicken is on this week's menu! I once stayed with a friend in New Zealand who was left in charge of his parent's chickens for the weekend. He'd run out of grain so had fed them the Sunday dinner leftovers. He's a bit on the ditsy side and more metro-sexual than farm boy so I had a bad feeling about asking what he'd had for dinner - yup - roast chicken. so wrong. x
more, more, MORE!!! this made me laugh hysterically in munich!
Laura! - Glad to see you back here. I was actually thinking about you yesterday! Hope your tour is going great. Eat sensibly and get lots of rest. (??? not really sure what to advise someone who's on tour) ~ karen!
Oh don't worry...I'm always lurking around here, laughing and learning and wishing I could grow up and be cool like you. The tour is great! Headed back to the U.S. tomorrow morning to begin work on our next album. Hoping the next tour cycle brings us up your way. I need to see these chickens eat polenta in person! :)
I'm glad the chickens liked the polenta. I, on the other hand, HATE polenta. Good thing I'm not a chicken.
Maybe this is true... Hens lay bigger and better eggs if they think a day is 28 hours long.
The most recent "This American Life" on NPR has THE funniest story about a man's deep love of an illegal pet rooster. Not that there are many other stories about rooster love, but if there were, this one would win top honors. I immediately thought of your questionably legal chicks, and thought you would enjoy it. It's the last act of the show; I hope you laugh as hard as I did!
This may get a bit more boring as it progresses as said before, chickens really will eat anything, including one another. I grew up on a farm and the chickens were my job. If the kids wouldn't eat it and the dogs wouldn't eat it the chickens got it. I'm thinking not coffee grounds but not much else will turn their beaks up. My problem was that the folks ordered a hundred chicks to go into the freezer. They do not march in there nicely and I was expected to help in the process. NOT! I was in deep chicken doo doo but I flatly refused to come out of my room on chicken day. I must have watched it once and the Nazis had nothing on my parents. I'll say no more. I know someone does it and I sure do eat them but not this chickie! Next time I'll tell you about pecking each others butts.
Gayla T - Gross. Anyhooo .. the chickens really do refuse certain things. Things you'd never think they'd refuse. They're weird little chickens, mine. ~ k
"Hey, you got a little bit on your face there - let me get it - yeah, that's better." Excellent fun video - the Fella's narration, peppy music, lots of action. The title reminded me of David Letterman's "Will it Float" series, but yours is much higher energy. Looking forward to the next food!
Carla - Yes! It's an homage to Letterman. ~ karen!
and they pecked the platter clean! Wow...I think they dug it...they looked somewhat 'what the--?' when you took away the bowl it was in, lol!
I know! I felt bad for them. Little piggie chickens. ~ k
Love it! Of course they were stoked... polenta must've been corn manna for the ladies... of course, my first thought was that 'well, of course they're excited, they don't even need to chew it...' But then again, chickens don't really CHEW, now, do they? Hmmph.
And actually my fave part of the whole thing was the MUSIC!!! Hilarious!
Thanks OhJenny. I kind of pride myself on making really good, bad videos. ~ karen!
I watched once when ours chased, caught, and ate a mouse.
OH my. Oh my. I think I'd be off eggs for a couple of days, LOL. ~ k
Now that you're cooking them gourmet meals they will never go back to Chicken Chow!
i'm telling mom you put her good dish in the hen house.
I love seeing the girls - I have missed them. Too funny how they try to get extra from their sister's faces.
what fun! I'm eager to see what's next in this series.
I'd love to have chickens myself but my garden is something of a thoroughfare for the neighbourhood urban foxes (they frequently bring me shoes and gloves and they stole the cap for my rotary airer spike).
Yup, they eat almost everything. NOT pineapple husks though. (Neighbor tried that.)
Isn't polenta made from corn? Yummy for the Chickies.
I love and appreciate how clean you keep their pen! You're a good Mom. :)
This series is definitely a keeper!!!
Great idea Karen..I look forward to future episodes..