I am gradually getting the new girls used to all the treats. Yesterday I thought I would try them with mash for the first time. Mash is a great treat because the girls love the different texture but are eating what they are supposed to eat anyway.
As usual Ebony is quick to try something new
Flame hovers in the background
Flame is creeping nearer
Flame is going to try the mash
Flame finally tries the mash
The pattern is always the same. Ebony is a confident girl and quickly tries anything new. Flame is cautious and also lower down the pecking order so she always takes her time getting the courage to approach something new.
Once they had tried the mash they decided they liked it. Like most lower ranking girls Flame would often wait until the other girls had had their fill and then come back to the mash when the coast was clear and she could she have some in peace.
Half way through the day the smaller dish was empty. By the end of the day the other dish was empty too. I think they enjoyed the change.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
It’s like feeding time at the zoo when I give mine their pellet porridge a the end of the day – mostly one ends up standing in it!! :-0 xx
Mine don’t stand in the mash but the chicks always stand in their food dish.
I love the mistrusting stance when they come across new foodstuffs – you’ve captured that perfectly in the last photo of Flame. “Stand back, girls and elongate your necks: you never know what they’re giving us now!”
I too love the elongating of the neck as if to say that if the “treat” turns out to be a “killer treat” the neck can safely be snapped back and avoid anything harmful. As you say “you never know what they are giving us now”, best to err on the safe side. Who would have thought that we just wanted to give these girls nice things! Any new treat could be the one that may bite them.
Nice to see them enjoying their treats.
Once they have the confidence to realise that it is treats that are on offer they love them.