Chickens picking through feed for sunflower seeds?

[phate008]

I have tried a few different feeds with my girls. Layer pellets and a few different natural blends. They seemed to never eat the pellets and they were overall just too big for them. Almost all the blends included black oil sunflower seeds which has led to a competition among them. Their coop now has a very expensive feed bedding. When I pour from the bag to fill their feeder they all run and use their beaks to spill out piles of the feed looking for sunflower seeds. It has caused food aggression between the 3 of them. The big girl attacks the medium girl for the seeds, and the medium girl attacks the smallest when they see them looking for the seeds. I am not sure they are eating anything else in the feed although I do occasionally catch them pecking at other things. They get treats. Apple, yogurt, oats, cabbage, meal worms, etc. They all love when they get the treats, but the feed has been a problem. I am not sure what I should do. Should I try and force a feed without the seeds on them? I fear they will still sweep out piles hoping to see a seed. Anyone else have this problem or a solution? Thanks for any help.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I would suggest buying feed without sunflower seeds, but they do appear to be a good treat for your girls.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Stop feeding sunflower seeds. They are very fatty and can cause health problems. They should be used sparingly as a treat. Put out a ration. They will eat it as necessary.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Someone mentioned mini pellets to me. I haven't looked for them yet so i don't know a brand, but they might be an option for you.

 

[Folly's place]

I feed Flock Raiser, which comes as a crumble, and chickens of all sizes and ages can eat it easily. Pelleted feeds are nice, but not for the babies, and these seed blends often cause at least some individuals to be malnourished, because they will eat those yummy bits and leave the rest.
Sunflower seeds and scratch blends are treats, and should be offered in very small quantities, probably not every day.
Mary

 

[rosemarythyme]

What feed specifically are you using?

You could possibly try fermenting it, to get all the feed including the BOSS to stick together and eliminate the waste.

Offering treats when they're already not eating the feed they have pretty much guarantees they'll never touch the feed. I'd cut all treats out until you can find a feed they will eat in entirety.

 

[Eggscaping]

Take a 5 gallon bucket and drill holes around the bottom, a few inches from the ground - high enough to hold a few inches of feed - each hole large enough for a chicken to put their head inside easily. Pour your mixed feed in there and put on the lid.
The chicken has to put her head into the hole to eat the feed. "Scraping" their heads to the side to "push out" the less desirable bits won't throw it out on the ground...it stays inside the bucket. That's helped cut out feed waste dramatically.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have tried a few different feeds with my girls. Layer pellets and a few different natural blends. They seemed to never eat the pellets and they were overall just too big for them.

Many brands of Layers feed also have a Crumble available. .

Someone mentioned mini pellets to me. I haven't looked for them yet so i don't know a brand, but they might be an option for you.

TSC carries two store brands of Layers feed in mini-pellets, one is non-GMO.
I also read the Nutrina Naturewise All-Flock is a mini-pellet, you can check before buying with the see through circle on the front of the bag.
Here you can see the Crumbles in Starter-Grower feed. . GC

 

[bjurbrat]

I have tried a few different feeds with my girls. Layer pellets and a few different natural blends. They seemed to never eat the pellets and they were overall just too big for them. Almost all the blends included black oil sunflower seeds which has led to a competition among them. Their coop now has a very expensive feed bedding. When I pour from the bag to fill their feeder they all run and use their beaks to spill out piles of the feed looking for sunflower seeds. It has caused food aggression between the 3 of them. The big girl attacks the medium girl for the seeds, and the medium girl attacks the smallest when they see them looking for the seeds. I am not sure they are eating anything else in the feed although I do occasionally catch them pecking at other things. They get treats. Apple, yogurt, oats, cabbage, meal worms, etc. They all love when they get the treats, but the feed has been a problem. I am not sure what I should do. Should I try and force a feed without the seeds on them? I fear they will still sweep out piles hoping to see a seed. Anyone else have this problem or a solution? Thanks for any help.

Mine love sunflower seeds too so I use the layer crumble they wouldn't eat the pellets and then I buy a bag of black oil sunflower seeds and throw them some every day the protein good for them and then you have control
❤

 

[Folly's place]

Sunflower seeds are about 50% fat, not so good, except in tiny amounts as a treat.
Mary