Chickens won't eat layer feed. Only want starter. Need suggestions.

[analyticalblonde]

OK...good...she's got the grit and you are on top of her crop...it will be much better for her if she can get that grass out...small blades of grass are not a problem...it's when they swallow long blades of grass that get tangled in their crop.

Another thought...when starting the introduction with the layer feed, maybe add a little plain yogurt making it kind of like a mash...they really like the taste of the yogurt, it gives her probiotics for her tummy, and can mask the color a bit until she gets used to her feed.

 

[klbaker75]

OK...good...she's got the grit and you are on top of her crop...it will be much better for her if she can get that grass out...small blades of grass are not a problem...it's when they swallow long blades of grass that get tangled in their crop.

Another thought...when starting the introduction with the layer feed, maybe add a little plain yogurt making it kind of like a mash...they really like the taste of the yogurt, it gives her probiotics for her tummy, and can mask the color a bit until she gets used to her feed.

I will try that! I tried making mash but they just snub it. Thanks for your help!

 

[MGG]

I have a question, you said there were plastic shards on your driveway, maybe she already ate some an has an obstruction or something? That could be really messing with her insides

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

I've been feeding them Nature's Best from TSC starter and now they're laying and won't eat the layer version. The starter is light tan in color and the layer is green. They just hate it. I have four different flocks and only one flock will slightly tolerate it. There's nothing wrong with the feed. I've tried multiple different bags. I have one hen who has developed an impaction from stuffing up on grass bc she refuses to eat it. She just started laying again and I don't have any other feed out there that I can use. I really feel strongly about organic as their feed source. Is there any way to still feed her the starter and supplement the calcium? She's got access to oyster shells but won't eat them. She really is a stubborn gal. I would rather not go with GMO feed but at the same time I don't want her to have egg issues. Thanks for any help.

That's pretty odd, the transition from starter feeds to normal feeds should not be that difficult. have you tried force-feeding? Like leaving the food with them. they will be hungry enough and eat it eventually.

 

[BDutch]

That's pretty odd, the transition from starter feeds to normal feeds should not be that difficult. have you tried force-feeding? Like leaving the food with them. they will be hungry enough and eat it eventually.

I suppose she prefers the taste of fresh grass. MixIng with chick feed is a good idea. Also trying to make the food tastier (yoghurt, tomato juice, orange juice ....). Not much you can do about eating grass when free ranging. Grit is good of course. And in general you can say a chicken knows what she can eat and what see needs.
But its not okay if she eats plastic. I would be worried about her eating the plastic too.

Can you make a large run or fence. Clear the plastic?
Can you keep her inside until she accepts the new feed? She will eat it if there is no other feed.

 

[klbaker75]

I have a question, you said there were plastic shards on your driveway, maybe she already ate some an has an obstruction or something? That could be really messing with her insides

I have wondered that as well. But up until the last few days I never saw her eat anything strange. It’s like she’s desperate for relief. All she ever wanted to do was follow me around and be held and now she just is desperate to get down and eat grass etc. they don’t normally free range so when I let her out today it’s bc I didn’t want her in her yard area due to grass. She has lived with pine shavings since I had her in October with no problem and I had to remove them bc she began gobbling them up. I lost a hen in the past to a gizzard abnormality. I had an X-ray and it wasn’t normal. Not distended but just cancerous like. I also have a Cochin in another flock with a chronic distended gizzard so I’ve been through this before. That hen does this every year when she moults. The moult makes her lose her appetite and she engorges on everything else. So I have to really watch her. I can’t help but think the hen in question now is having issues bc she literally was never on grass and now the muscle just doesn’t work well. I’m trying to clean her out over time and add back in small grit and see if the function can be restored. Gizzard issues scare me bc there’s so much unknown and not a lot that can be done.

 

[klbaker75]

That's pretty odd, the transition from starter feeds to normal feeds should not be that difficult. have you tried force-feeding? Like leaving the food with them. they will be hungry enough and eat it eventually.

To my knowledge she’s just refusing. Another flock of mine recently became hormonal again and that hen flat out refused as well. Switched back and she began gobbling it down. I guess I’m stuck getting some different feed or sticking with starter and supplementing. I’ve had soft shelled eggs in the past and am a bit worried of that again though.

 

[klbaker75]

I suppose she prefers the taste of fresh grass. MixIng with chick feed is a good idea. Also trying to make the food tastier (yoghurt, tomato juice, orange juice ....). Not much you can do about eating grass when free ranging. Grit is good of course. And in general you can say a chicken knows what she can eat and what see needs.
But its not okay if she eats plastic. I would be worried about her eating the plastic too.

Can you make a large run or fence. Clear the plastic?
Can you keep her inside until she accepts the new feed? She will eat it if there is no other feed.

Yes she has a big yard she stays in. She has always enjoyed grass but she’s engorging with it since coming back into hormones and adding the layer feed. She would just stand there and eat it nonstop. I’ve been keeping her inside her house and she’s going insane wanting out. I’m hoping a few days and she will clear out. I switched her feed back last night and will see how she is this morning. I’ll update if her crop emptied.

 

[klbaker75]

I went out at 4:45 am after my last post and her crop is gold ball size again. I think I am understanding a bit what’s going on. She’s not pooping much. I think the grass is causing constipation and some blockage which is dangerous. I think she’s desperately eating fibrous things to push it all through. Im just trying to think if I were her that’s exactly what I would do to try to relieve it even though it’s the worst thing possible she can do at this point.

I’m planning to try a molasses flush and some fiber I have here and maybe a bit of coconut oil to lube things some. I’m not going to treat the crop issue until the rest of her bowel is cleaned out for fear of compounding the problem. Any other suggestions?

 

[analyticalblonde]

I recently watched this YouTube video because one of my girls was having issues (which have now subsided). It's about 5 minutes long so you need to watch it until the end to see how this person handled his girl's crop issues...you may already know about this treatment but just in case, I thought I would share...