Chickens are not eating new feed

[mysticmama]

About four days ago I switched my chickens' feed from an organic chick starter (crumbles) to a homemade blend of whole grains, and they have not eaten anything substantial. They pick at it a little, but I haven't even had to refill their feeders yet and I'm getting worried. They are definitely foraging more (they free range in my yard) but I think they should still be eating lots of grain, right? I thought after an adjustment period they would get used to it, but it's almost been a week now and I don't want them to starve! I have 7- and 12-week old chickens, and neither group is eating much. Did I switch them to whole grains too soon? Or is there a reason they might have boycotted their new feed? It is whole corn, wheat berries, oat groats, lentils, split peas, flax seeds, sesame seeds, and kelp granules. I switched them off the organic feed because I realized it was just wheat and soy with added vitamins, which didn't sound very nutritious at all and it is the only organic feed I can find around here. I'd really prefer not to go back to that brand. (NatureSmart). Thanks for your help!

 

[Den in Penn]

Welcome to BYC.
At seven weeks the youngest should just be starting to try the larger pieces like corn. Most likely they would prefer to have smaller pieces. Cold you grind the grains somehow?

 

[aart]

There are some vitamins and minerals that they may not get with your mix.
Learn about all the components of a nutritionally balanced feed before attempting to mix your own.

Agrees they are kind of young to be eating whole grain....even my adults don't like to eat whole corn.

 

[mysticmama]

Which nutrients? I didn't just make up a recipe, I did research and found a chicken feed recipe and followed it.

But I have just ground my grains in my Blendtec and they seemed more interested, but still haven't eaten much. I plan to start fermenting their feed once we get back from our vacation in a week, maybe that will make them more interested. But I am still worried about them not eating this week for their chicken sitter.