Can pelleted feed be crushed into crumbles

[Bawkbok]

Thank everyone for the feedback and input. Exact same food, all flock 20% protein. I'm going to have to buy a bag and start mixing while I have some feed left. The woman at the feed store said she's going to suggest to the owner they do the same thing - crush pellets and rebag to sell as 'crumbles' - so many people are waiting for the delivery. She said it in jest, sort of. The more we joked about it the more serious she became.
Unfortunately, it's one of the few feed stores around that sells the All Flock. Most others just sell layer or starter feed for whatever reason.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

There are a VERY few feeds where I've seen slight difference between crumble and pellet - the inclusion of a bit of some vegetable oil on the ingredient list, but the nutritional label remains the same [because it usually reads Crude Fat (min.)]. As others have said, its essentially interchangeable.***

If your chickens won't eat one form, but will eat the other (pellet/crumble) and its not due to a bag going rancid / stale, its usually because chickens don't like change. But healthy birds won't willingly starve for long. they get over it.

and personally, weather permitting, I'd add water and make a wet mash to break up pellets rather than subjecting anything smaller than a cement mixer to trying to pulverize pellets. Can be hard on your equipment, otherwise.

***because of its greater volume/surface area ratio, pelleted feed is slightly less susceptible to degradation from exposure to light, moisture, oxygen than crumble is - but none of us want to be feeding our birds near expired feed regardless, so this is more a matter of scientific trivia than something likely to affect your feed purchase choices.

 

[SourRoses]

Actually I've had the same experience with Pellets vs Crumbles. I stopped trying a long time ago. Once they've gotten used to Crumbles it seems to be permanent.
And the Pellets look too big to me anyway... that's the same size they use for horse feed, it's just convenience for the manufacturer.
I wouldn't want every bite of my food to be as long and straight as my beak/mouth, lol.
Plus, I'm always raising chicks / juveniles, so it would be two sizes of feed.
One size I have found that they love the best is the pearls... totally round. It seems to be fun for them to eat. Currently only available in a 16% Layer from Purina, I provide just one feeder with a scoop for our senior citizen who doesn't touch the Oyster Shell. And everyone argues over her leftover Pearls.
Just recently I found a new Chick Starter (24% NatureWise) fashioned into the round shape and it's a big hit with this lot of chicks! Less messy and more appealing to them.

As for your current feed conundrum... my advice is to just let go of the brand affiliation for a bag or two. They will enjoy another brand of crumbles. Then when it's back in stock, make sure you have a little extra on hand in case this is reoccurring.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

(I also feed crumble near exclusively) = both because I usually have hatchlings/juveniles underfoot, and because that's what the local mill produces. I can get a layer pellet, but you know my feelings on layer formulations (and again, i usually have hatchlings underfoot).

 

[Bawkbok]

As for your current feed conundrum... my advice is to just let go of the brand affiliation for a bag or two. They will enjoy another brand of crumbles. Then when it's back in stock, make sure you have a little extra on hand in case this is reoccurring.

Good suggestion - that's what I'll have to do. I wonder if they'll take issue with a different brand, smells different, etc.? I wouldn't be so concerned otherwise but our numbers will be increasing this week from 2-5 as we await the arrival / shipment of new pullets.
The number of people around here with chickens is increasing so I think the feed store just can't keep up. I also don't want to buy a bag of pellets that's been sitting on the shelf for a while.
Thank you for the input.

 

[David kobon]

Haha I saw this article a few days ago that kinda lays it all out — when pellets make sense, how they cut down waste, and why the nutrition’s more consistent. Maybe worth a peek before going full grind mode

 

[Bawkbok]

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.