Chickens stopped eating pellets

[Bonnieboo]

Do you have any vets nearby? Sounds like a more general loss of appetite, not anything about the pellets/crumble specifically, if they are also not interested in their usual favorite treats. If it's a flock-wide issue there might be something else going on. See if you can have a vet examine one of the birds, and ask about what could cause appetite loss like this.

Hi KOkOshka, thanks for your correspondence. It does seem to be a flock-wide problem.
I think a vet visit is probably on the cards.
Thanks for your advice

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for getting in touch This may sound rather dumb, but what exactly is mash? I see it mentioned often and have never heard of it in Australia.

Not a dumb question at all.
Wet mash is simply their regular feed mixed with enough water to make a "mash" the consistency of cooked oatmeal.
Pellets and crumble absorb the water in about 5-10 minutes so it doesn't take long to make at all. For whatever reason many birds prefer their feed this way.

Another term you will see i FF or fermented feed which starts off nearly the same but is allowed to ferment. That is a method I am not super familiar with so will stop there rather than give possibly incorrect information.

Rereading your thread and I agree with a vet visit. A flock wide issue like this needs further looking into than we can do online.

 

[Bonnieboo]

Not a dumb question at all.
Wet mash is simply their regular feed mixed with enough water to make a "mash" the consistency of cooked oatmeal.
Pellets and crumble absorb the water in about 5-10 minutes so it doesn't take long to make at all. For whatever reason many birds prefer their feed this way.

Another term you will see i FF or fermented feed which starts off nearly the same but is allowed to ferment. That is a method I am not super familiar with so will stop there rather than give possibly incorrect information.

Rereading your thread and I agree with a vet visit. A flock wide issue like this needs further looking into than we can do online.

Thanks, 21hens-incharge (love your handle )
I'll try the mash while I wait for the soonest vet appointment