Changed pellet brand, chickens won't eat

[Bethend]

I have 3 bantams and 1 regular hen in a garden coop. I've been getting pellets from a shop for a few years, but because of the awkward weight of a full-size 20-liter bag, I switched to a different company when I found one that would deliver.
And they're refusing to eat! They act like there is no food put out at all and don't even check their feeder, instead going straight to squalling that they're hungry. I tried the tough-love approach and left them to complain, but they completely refused and the feeder sat out for days untouched. In the end I had to give them some scratch and bread leftovers just so they would eat something.
I tried grinding the pellets up roughly with some oats to see if I could trick them, but that didn't work either.
What is going on? They entirely ignore the new pellets. Is it the brand, have I been ripped off? Are they just being picky? I don't want to waste a whole sack of food I paid for, and I don't want to go back to hauling massive bags on the bus anymore.

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens do hate change, but this is extreme. There's a problem with the new feed, IMO.
Is it fresh? Mill date within four weeks? Any mold, bugs, or off odors? Return it and get something that they will eat.
Mary

 

[staceyj]

You could simply try soaking it with warm water in a bowl and presenting it to them like that. (Some people call this mash)
My chickens think it’s the bees knees.

 

[paneubert]

By giving in to their complaints, even after a few days, you are teaching them that as long as they wait, you will give in. They are not going to starve themselves.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

You could try fermenting it

 

[chickens really]

Put them back on the feed they like...

 

[Bethend]

This was less of "we're cheap" and more "we don't have a car so carrying a 20 liter sack half an hour on the bus with a toddler is a pain in the backside"

 

[cavemanrich]

Mix some scratch in with the pellets , and maybe they will start to eat .
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[Bethend]

Mix some scratch in with the pellets , and maybe they will start to eat .

Tried that, they picked the scratch out and ignored the rest.

 

[Bethend]

You could try fermenting it

How do I go about that?