Anyone successfully transition from crumbles to pellets?

[chickengoggles]

I always gradually change when swapping out any new food for any animal.

I do, too. I think that might be what's at the root of the problem - the pellets aren't as preferred, so they are picking out the mash. Hopefully as the mix gets more pellet-heavy, they'll concede defeat and just eat the damn things.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If pellets are the only choice, they'll eat them.

That said, they don't necessarily like (hate?) all pellets equally. I switched brands a few months ago once my pullets were big enough to eat pelleted feed and both hens and pullets at first grudgingly accepted it, then they started throwing food all over the ground - the pellets were quite large and I think they disliked that. I swapped back to the pellets I used to buy for the hens, and all the chickens immediately took to it and stopped making a mess.

 

[7acres]

I switched to a higher protein pellet and fed in run as I still had crumbles in coop. They wouldn’t touch them. Some spilled on the ground and I threw some scratch in the container and on the ground. They ate the scratch and left the pellets. I then took a couple spoons of plain yogurt and stirred it in the pellets. They immediately started eating the yogurt and pellets together. When all the noticible yogurt was gone they left the pellets. That afternoon they ate all the pellets. Now I have no trouble getting them to eat them.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Mine don't like the pellets. Either to big or they are to picky

 

[WindingRoad]

My 11 chickens (10 hens, one cockerel) were all acquired as adults, and all had historically been fed crumbles. The owner of the original two told me she had tried pellets, and they seemed to prefer starving. I found New Country Organics, as I wanted them on an organic feed - they only make a layer mash and layer pellets. I have been feeding them the mash, but they pick out the grains and leave the powder, which is all of the added nutrients/minerals, etc. I've been trying to gradually transition them to New Country's pellets, but they pick out the mash and leave the pellets behind. Will they eventually eat enough pellets to maintain their weight and health? I've already seen a decrease in the daily number of eggs, and they act like they are starving once they've picked out the mash and left the pellets, so I've taken to feeding them twice a day (I have a bazillion feeding stations that I usually just fill in the morning). Their crops feel mostly full in the evening, a couple maybe less packed than usual. Am I overthinking this?

I've decided chickens are sorta like 2 year olds. My chickens were eating pellets when I got them. I got a big metal canister full of pellets. And one of scratch. They ate like horses. They were about 24 weeks old when I got them. I went to the feed store and mistakenly bought crumble. Layer crumble. They hated it. They just wouldn't eat it. They would eat the scratch ( I tried to disguise the crumble) and leave the crumble. And then when I let them out to free range they went to town. We got through the 40 lb bag of crumbles because they finally started eating it though not voraciously and I watched closely and double checked and bought pellets the next time. WOW what a difference. I just bought a new bag for spring and summer at 16% down from the 20% I fed in the winter. I hope they don't notice.

 

[chickengoggles]

I switched to a higher protein pellet and fed in run as I still had crumbles in coop. They wouldn’t touch them. Some spilled on the ground and I threw some scratch in the container and on the ground. They ate the scratch and left the pellets. I then took a couple spoons of plain yogurt and stirred it in the pellets. They immediately started eating the yogurt and pellets together. When all the noticible yogurt was gone they left the pellets. That afternoon they ate all the pellets. Now I have no trouble getting them to eat them.

I'll try it!