Hens not eating/laying

I don't know why they are just not eating but here is what I was doing leading up to this event. I have been buying "organic feed" for the layers. I have 6 hens. They were eating everything. I found another feed online that was according to their info organic and a complete meal. They were crazy about it. I did mix it with the other feed, traditional pellets but I found they were picking the seeds and other ingredients out of the regular pellets/feed. Then I was concerned that something may not be right with that so I stopped that organic feed and used pellets only. Well, for the last two days they have barley touched it and for the last 4 days they have virtually stopped laying. Please advice.

The Ricker said:

I don't know why they are just not eating but here is what I was doing leading up to this event. I have been buying "organic feed" for the layers. I have 6 hens. They were eating everything. I found another feed online that was according to their info organic and a complete meal. They were crazy about it. I did mix it with the other feed, traditional pellets but I found they were picking the seeds and other ingredients out of the regular pellets/feed. Then I was concerned that something may not be right with that so I stopped that organic feed and used pellets only. Well, for the last two days they have barley touched it and for the last 4 days they have virtually stopped laying. Please advice.

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To be sure I'm reading this right - the pellets are the feed you were using to begin with that the birds were eating up until the recent hunger strike that came after the removal of the feed that was added to those pellets they had bene willing to eat?

Common issue - from your description of the other feed that was being mixed in you essentially had carrot sticks (the pellets) and candy (the added feed) -- if you mix carrot sticks and candy together in a big bowl and turn a herd of kids loose on it you are generally going to see them go mad for the candy and pick it all out, leaving the carrot sticks behind, right? That is what your chickens were doing. The seeds and other ingredients in the mixed in feed are the candy to them - it's natural (but not healthy) for them to pick through and eat the choice bits and leave the regular stuff behind.

It's going to take a bit for your birds to realize that you are not going to give in and give them back the candy, and that they need to go ahead and eat their carrot sticks.

Now - that aside - can you post the name or feed tag for the two feeds involved? Being able to see the nutritional information for both will help determine if it is truly fair to classify the second feed as "candy" or if it has sufficient nutiriotnal content to make up for the pellets not being consumed.

I have taken the candy away and started them back on the regular food. Some are eating good some aren't. The hens seem healthy no obvious signs of trouble other than not laying. I believe they all will get back on track. Thank you.

Hello again. I am still have issues with the hens not eating. The name of the feed I bought for them was "H & H Old Fashion Layer 20#
Manufactured by Microbe, Inc. from Hamilton, TX. On the label it specifically states for laying hens. Its fine But! this is all their eating. I still thought of them eating either the Manna Pro Organic Layer Pellets or Nurtrina Nature Wise Layer Feed. Now they wont't even touch this. I did mix it up and as I said before they are picking through it. Please advise.
Thanks