Crumble vs. Pellet

[Bobby Basham]

Never saw a chicken go on a hunger strike and die of starvation. If the feed is fresh, not spoiled, etc etc,etc, they will eat it. I got tired of seeing all that mash melting into the ground they flicked out to find the pieces of corn.

One day I filled the feeders with pellets and went to work. When I got home they were all fine.

Chickens don't rule my roost. I do. If they don't want to eat what I give them I'm not the one going hungry.

I like your attitude and I use that same mindset. Sometimes, these damn brats get so spoiled, they have YOU trained to cater to their needs. They will eventually eat what you give them whether they like it or not.

If they had more brains they would be thankful that someone took the time to raise their fluffy butts, providing decent food/water and shelter, but some still have the nerve to dictate what they will or will not eat.

I like to experiment with different veggies and greens, and if they don't like it, I change up. Eating crumbles and pellets can be boring throughout the day when they have limited foraging space. BUT...their feed will always come first. Just like kids..."if you don't eat your veggies, no dessert".

No love loss here if they never see a treat again.

 

[Gspsaku]

Once the chicks are 3-4 weeks old, there's no need for crumble. It's such a big waste and alot of it becomes nothing more than dust. With pellets, there's still a decent amount of crumble so that's the way I would go with it.

 

[jthornton]

I like to experiment with different veggies and greens, and if they don't like it, I change up. Eating crumbles and pellets can be boring throughout the day when they have limited foraging space. BUT...their feed will always come first. Just like kids..."if you don't eat your veggies, no dessert".

For daily greens I sprout wheat, takes 9 days from start to finish.



JT

 

[Mark Armstrong]

I agree 100%, Didn't let my kids train me and I certainly won't let my birds train me, like you they get good feed, fresh water, shelter and ample roaming room, just throw them a little scratch twice a day, they scarf it up, a couple of hours of free range during the week and plenty of time out on the weekends

 

[Bobby Basham]

For daily greens I sprout wheat, takes 9 days from start to finish.

View attachment 1313001

JT

The only greens/veggies I give them come from the grocery store at the moment, but I would like to give these a try...

They'll probably poop all over them, and may have to fashion a removable screened top, and hose/scrape them off with a wire brush, because that poop will be too hot as fertilizer.

 

[jthornton]

@Bobby Basham The first ones I made 2' x 4' but had trouble controlling sagging of the screen so I went with 1' x 4' with a divider in the middle. and put them along the fence line, see post #78 on this thread. Usually very little poop makes it through the hardware cloth. It's usually sitting on top and I flick into my poop collector and put it the compost pile. Obvious from that photo the chickens just gained access to that area otherwise there would not be one blade of grass outside the frames and the grass on the inside would have a crew cut.

JT

 

[Bobby Basham]

@Bobby Basham The first ones I made 2' x 4' but had trouble controlling sagging of the screen so I went with 1' x 4' with a divider in the middle. and put them along the fence line, see post #78 on this thread. Usually very little poop makes it through the hardware cloth. It's usually sitting on top and I flick into my poop collector and put it the compost pile. Obvious from that photo the chickens just gained access to that area otherwise there would not be one blade of grass outside the frames and the grass on the inside would have a crew cut.

JT

I like the design, and still have two 75-ft rolls of quarter-inch (48" wide) of hardware cloth. It's actually reserved to complete the sides and top of my run, but I'll have left-overs.

I reinforce everything I build, needed or not, so there's no problem beefing up those boxes. Got a heavy duty staple guns and some extra screws and large washers as backup for the staples.

I wouldn't actually call this spoiling them and look at it as a compensation/compromise because I live in an HOA and they don't have acres to free range. It's just a way of bringing more natural elements into the run with their limited space...like creating a small ecosystem with some miniature trees, branches, dust baths.

They didn't choose to be domesticated to stuff their faces, poop and lay an egg on occasion, so at least give them something other than a boring coop and run, since they reward us with eggs, meat, entertainment and companionship.

 

[jthornton]

I used 3/4" fence staples, much stronger than any staple gun. Quarter inch openings might be a ok with grass, seems kinda small. I used 1/2" Hardware Cloth. On the plus side almost no poop will go through 1/4 HC.

JT

 

[Bobby Basham]

I used 3/4" fence staples, much stronger than any staple gun. Quarter inch openings might be a ok with grass, seems kinda small. I used 1/2" Hardware Cloth. On the plus side almost no poop will go through 1/4 HC.

JT

That's just a future project way down the road. I need to get this coop built first. Some drama going on here and it's my fault, but was thinking of some amenities later.

Someone mentioned on another thread that chickens are jungle/forest animals, and not lawn critters. I kinda like that analogy, but some for these new breed/descendants are not the brightest bulb in the house, so they need to be under our care.

 

[Phins Fan]

I've had my girls on crumble since new about a year ago. While I could see how some might think there's a waste factor I don't have any waste. Although I utilize a 5 gallon bucket with a "knocker" eyebolt system that generates no waste . As soon as it's released they are right there to eat it