Chickens dont seem to like the layer pellets.

[superchemicalgirl]

I guess I wasn't clear in my post. What I meant was take some pellets out of the bag (enough that they can consume it in 10 minutes so there's no sitting wet food waste to mold) and wet that serving in a container.

I did this to get my chickens to eat Flock Raiser pellets after being raised on Blue Seal crumbles - they acted like I was trying to poison them with the pellets. They dug into the wet food like it was a total treat. They were only 8 weeks old when I did the conversion too so I was worried that some of the smaller chickens couldn't handle the pellets - making them mushy from water for about a week was a way to ensure everyone was able to eat.

 

[woodmort]

I'd tell them "Tough luck, that's all you're gonna get!" and leave it at that--sooner or later they'll catch on. On the other hand, I always mix the first layer pellets with the grower until the grower is gone and never have a problem. BTW in IMHO, 15 weeks is kinda early for layer feed unless the birds have started to lay, it may be easier to get them to accept it if they need the nutrients that are in the feed.

 

[sally4500]

Don't they sell layer MASH where you are? That's what I fed my chickens many years ago. My new flock is 3 months old now, and my Agway still sells the mash. No need to get out the hammer!

 

[flash5153]

Quote:
Well,,,I would guess that I can buy it around here. I didnt realize I bought pellets.

I mixed water in with a cup or so of pellets this morning and they cobbled it up,,,and then again just a few minutes ago. Tomorrow I will do it again with less water mixed in. They are coming around.
Oh and I got my third egg today,,I may have more than one hen laying now,,that is 2 days in a row I got a egg.

 

[SKKreativ]

I tried the transition method of mixing the pullet crumb with layers pellets, however, I found it did not work. My chickens would pick out the crumbs and leave the LP. The only way I got them to eat the LP was placing them in a blender with different vegetables which created a mash. This seemed to work for me.

 

[JustJudith]

I just got two bantams. POL apparently. Didn't realise there was a difference between foods at different stages. Bought a huge bag of layers pellets which they are definitely just ignoring. only got them yesterday so perhaps just settling in, but I think I may have to try crumb? I dont know what they have been having before

15 weeks old,,just changed food a few days ago from grower to Layer . The layer comes in pellet form. They sure dont seem to like it too much. With grower they would empty a tray or 2 in a day,,with new layer pellets not even eating 1 tray a day.
I feed them garden veggies also,, so they are not starving,but have always done this.

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[JustJudith]

15 weeks old,,just changed food a few days ago from grower to Layer . The layer comes in pellet form. They sure dont seem to like it too much. With grower they would empty a tray or 2 in a day,,with new layer pellets not even eating 1 tray a day.
I feed them garden veggies also,, so they are not starving,but have always done this.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I have two new bantams, just got them yesterday so maybe it's a bit early to worry, but they dont show much interest in the layers pellets I bought (huge bag full) didn't realise about different types for different ages. Breeder said it would be about 3 weeks before they lay. I wonder if I should do as suggested below and crush or add water. reluctant to buy crumb at this stage?

 

[Erba]

I bought huge bag of pellets by mistake! They normally get a grain mix complete feed. I tried to give them it dry, but they wouldn't touch it, so I put it in a bucket with water until it soaked soft, and they liked it then. It also smells more like grain, which I think was the problem why they weren't keen on it dry.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I wonder if I should do as suggested below and crush or add water. reluctant to buy crumb at this stage?

If they're 18 weeks or older you could turn the pellets into crumbles in a blender one cup at at time using pulse, or a larger quantity in a food processor using pulse.

If your two bantams are younger, I would get a 5 or 10 pound bag of Start & Grow feed and put out a container of Oyster Shells separately after 15 weeks old.
Then switch to a Layers feed after 18 weeks old. GC

 

[JustJudith]

Ah! Thank you so much