Chickens Won't Eat Pellets

[sophia31d8921]

I have started giving my 18 week old chickens layer pellets, but I'm not sure if they are eating them. When I try to feed it to them out of my hand, they just knock it on the ground with their beaks, and if they do try to eat them, it takes them a few tries because it falls out of their mouths. When I looked in the coop, a lot of pellets were on the floor underneath the feeder. How can I get my chickens to eat them. (I think I have been giving them too much cucumber, grass, etc. that may be part of the problem)

 

[sophia31d8921]

UPDATE: I fed them a mash of their food and they really liked it... Btw none of them have started laying any eggs yet

 

[Ghull00]

I would think that you need to hold back from giving them anything other than the pellets......because then if they are hungry, they will simply have to eat it! Obviously, I don't mean starve them but just try and restrict them to the pellets.....