Crumble vs pellet

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momoftwinsinwi

momoftwinsinwi

Songster
13 Years
May 29, 2007
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Rochester, WI
I started my chickens out with crumble and was going thru about 200 pounds (4 bags) in less then 4 weeks, with not a lot of waste on the ground as my feeder is hung (5 gallon bucket with drilled holes and a 6" tray screwed to it, and when I sent my sons for more feed, not knowing they bought pellets, seems my feed is lasting quite a bit longer, any thoughts on crumble vs pellets my "peeps" :) I have 32 birds by the way.....
 
200 pounds in 4 weeks for 32 birds is a lot of wasted feed. Crumble is so easy to be scratched away by chickens. I don't even think I use that much for 90 birds a month.

There is less waste with pellets. It is also possible your birds are just eating less pellets because they don't like them. It can take a while for some to switch to pellets. It also could be that there's not much waste. I personally only feed pellets unless I'm feeding chicks.
 
oldhenlikesdogs said:
200 pounds in 4 weeks for 32 birds is a lot of wasted feed. Crumble is so easy to be scratched away by chickens. I don't even think I use that much for 90 birds a month.

There is less waste with pellets. It is also possible your birds are just eating less pellets because they don't like them. It can take a while for some to switch to pellets. It also could be that there's not much waste. I personally only feed pellets unless I'm feeding chicks.
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X2!
 
If Flock Raiser came in pellets here, I'd switch at least part of the year. Because it's my preferred feed, and only comes in crumble here, it's what I feed all the time. Having feeders that limit bill out helps.
Chickens hate changes, and any food change offends them. Is their egg production lower, or any other signs that they aren't eating enough? If things are fine, just wait it out, and be glad if it's actually all about less wasted feed!
Mary
 
Usually less waste with pellets as others mentioned. They sure can make a mess with crumble if allowed!

If you have 32 full size birds, 200lbs in a month isn’t so unusual. I think it’s estimated 1/4lb per bird per day, so that would be about right. If they are not full grown, then yes, a lot of waste using the crumble.
 
I'm going through this now - I have been feeding crumble in small fortiflex bowls inside larger fortiflex bowls due to a pullet with significant scissor beak. I refresh feed daily, and the larger bowls prevent waste, but started noticing that the feed was turning to a powder that my flock wouldn't touch. Also bought a few bags that were more powder than crumble. Starting switching to pellets a week or so ago and already notice less waste. It seems my flock prefers the pellets.
 
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Usually scissor beaked birds can't eat pellets well, so do watch her! A deep dish with crumble works best, IMO, and that will get scattered by your birds.
Make sure to pick her up weekly, at least, checking her body condition compared to same breed flockmates. Weighing her would be good! She needs to be keeping up with them, and 'feel right' in your hands, or she's malnourished. Don't wait for starvation!
Mary
 

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