9-week olds won't eat dry pellets

[elizamamma]

Hi all,
This is my first experience raising chicks. We have four chicks, various breeds, who had been on chick starter (which was pretty much a powder) until about 2 weeks ago, when I began transitioning them to grower pellets. They are resisting eating the dry pellets. I have been sprinkling a little water on the pellets to soften them and then they chow down, but I'd really like not to have to do that as it's pretty high maintenance. My husband says I'm being a sucker and that I should just not give them anything else and then they will eat the dry pellets, but they just moved outside to their big girl coop and I feel sorry for them. I did try not giving them anything else for a day, but I don't think they ate anything. I suspect that they'd happily eat crumble but I've read that pellets are better at ensuring a balanced diet.
Thanks for helping out a newbie!
Liz

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

My birds hate pellets too.. so I buy crumble.

Chickens are creatures of habit and change can cause resistance. But more than that I think the pellets are bigger and harder to swallow.

Been raising birds on crumbles for years. The nutrients are the same, just the shape is different. When you end up with that dust left behind, maybe wet it and let them chow to avoid any waste left behind at the end of bags.

 

[sourland]

Any possibility that the pellets are too big for them to swallow readily ?

 

[21hens-incharge]

They should still be on baby food. Starter/grower is needed to maintain their growth and ensure they are getting what they need without getting overloaded on calcium that they don't need yet.

Are the pellets an all flock type feed?

I do not switch to layer until everyone is actually laying. Many people give an all flock or starter feed the entire life of the birds with oyster shell on the side once they start laying.

And as EggSighted4Life said chickens hate change. Crumbles are indeed the same as pellets just smaller.

Personally I keep pellets available and also make a wet mash every morning. It takes just a few minutes to make and serve. I have 31 birds so your 4 would be even easier to handle.

 

[elizamamma]

Thanks everyone! Looks like I should go buy some crumble for the little birds. 21Hens, I have them on grower pellets right now, I was going to hold off on layer feed until they are bigger or maybe I'll just give them oyster shell on the side. When you make your wet mash, is it just pellets with water? And what's your preferred dish for the mash? My girls seem to tip over everything I give them.
Thanks again!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I am one who gives flock raiser (20% protein) with OS on the side and never switch to layer. But that's because I have dual purpose breeds and many genders/ages in my flock.

Yes a wet mash only needs feed and water. You can even take it one step farther and ferment if you like... check the link in my signature for quick info.

If I have pellets and need to feed smaller, I use a heavy pan or glass and roll over the top of a pile to crush a little before sweeping it off the counter into a dish.

Finding a way to raise your container level to the height of the back can help. I use either a glass loaf pan or a plastic rain gutter sitting atop a cinder block.

 

[Fairview01]

I agree with your husband.

If the feed is fresh not spoiled, moldy or rancid and the chickens are healthy and they have no alternative more attractive than the pellets (free range, etc) when they get hungry they will eat the pellets. 2 month old large fowl chicks can easily choke down food larger than pellets. Do not confuse not eating pellets with not wasting pellets like they do other feeds where there are tiny pieces of corn to be found. They learn at a very early age to flick out the already picked through feed to get at fresh feed with the corn pieces. Contrary to opinion chickens will not clean up food in the run or coop when a full feeder is available. That feed just melts into the ground or becomes very expensive litter.

My flock had been on mash for a little more than 7 months. One day they were eating mash the next pellets. The move to pellets cut my feed bill in half. They are still just as fat and lay eggs just as well.

 

[elizamamma]

Good to know, Fairview. But I won't be telling him
In the meantime, I got them some crumble and they are happily chowing down. Clever little birds. They've also requested a big screen TV out there...

 

[ThatCrazyChickenGirl]

You could run the pellet feed you have left over through a food processor, to break the larger chunks apart.

At 9 weeks, though, you can just give them starter. You don't need layer feed or calcium until they start laying eggs - the calcium is to support the eggshells.

We generally put our birds on layer feed and scratch at 4-5 months, as then they're with the older chickens and it's just simpler.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Your husband is a smart man. They will eat them as long as you feed nothing else.

You are the boss of your flock, don't let them tell you differently

Gary