Chooks refusing everything

[Lynn Cardwell]

Hiya, it's the only place I can buy this feed lose, an unopened bag is too much for only 2 birds, it would go off before we're halfway through. Yes, like yours they were starving literally, although I do ferment grain so they've had some of that. Because they are right against the house, I get the brunt of it too. I am going to our local Farmers store this morning for a small bag of better quality mash and will mix it with a drop of warm water and perhaps a sardine in olive oil (this is their weekly treat). This way perhaps they will accept a different make. Only two birds - no competition, and they get picky but sour mash is not acceptable at any time. Yesterday was a bad day - Poor chooks...!

 

[Lynn Cardwell]

I donno, mine get fermented feed on a daily basis, they think dry is something special.

 

[Lynn Cardwell]

Thanks Gary, have just posted to another helper, the chooks get hot mash with scraps and touch of Cod Liver Oil in the winter, but they ain't daft - they'll 'suss if the food is rancid, which I think it is so there'll be no takers.
Time for a change and will go for bagged instead. At least there'll be a rod on it. Mix with bit of sardine and they should be ok. Brilliant forum - used to use UK one at Practical Poultry but they have closed down, so am pleased to have found you at Backyard chooks..

 

[lazy gardener]

Lynn, FWIW, my birds could care less what brand of feed they get. As long as it's not a problem feed, like the issue I previously described to you, they will eat it. I do not go through the bother of "mixing the old with the new". Be sure to let the manager at the store you buy from know that there is a problem with the feed. He may refund your money, or replace the feed with some fresh. So sorry you have such limited access. Any other poultry owners near you, so you can split a bag of fresh feed?

 

[Lynn Cardwell]

Lynn, FWIW, my birds could care less what brand of feed they get. As long as it's not a problem feed, like the issue I previously described to you, they will eat it. I do not go through the bother of "mixing the old with the new". Be sure to let the manager at the store you buy from know that there is a problem with the feed. He may refund your money, or replace the feed with some fresh. So sorry you have such limited access. Any other poultry owners near you, so you can split a bag of fresh feed?

 

[Lynn Cardwell]

Thank you for this advice. I went to the store the minute they opened this morning and told the manager. He said several customers had mentioned the problem on this batch. This afternoon he rang to say with strong magnifying glass, he could see mites. The only other flock here is an organic pedigree flock on the Dartington Estate community farm who wouldn't touch non-organic with a barge pole. Their eggs sell for twice the price of normal eggs but taste exactly the same! Too expensive for we in the lower orders!
Anyhow, my chooks had a couple of sardines in extra virgin olive oil last night, along with a spoonfull of fermented-with-ACV-grain mixed in and they both laid large tasty brown eggs this morning. Now with a fresh batch of the usual mash, we should be back on track. UK is panicking about eggs imported from Holland and other EU countries where layers have been subjected to dangerous chemicals.
Most of these eggs are used in salads, sandwiches, other cooked foods, but I notice some of the supermarket shelves are looking a tad bare just now. Always over the top these scares, they reckon only one in a million eggs might have been contaminated. I'd take the risk If I wanted an egg badly enough!
Lovely forum, I'll keep watching.

 

[lazy gardener]

Lynn, so did the manager make it right for you??? If not, I'd be driving elsewhere for my feed, even if twice the distance.