Do your hens go off their usual feed when they moult?

[NatJ]

Are pellets designed to be digested quickly or slowly do you know?

Pelleted chicken feeds are made of ground-up ingredients, mostly grains. So they probably digest faster than whole grains, but maybe slower than some of the other things you mentioned.

 

[3KillerBs]

My final molter is just finishing up and I have to say that I just don't know about any possible pattern with molters and food.

With 20-30 birds it's difficult to notice any given bird eating more or less and while the really ragged girls get grumpy and want to sleep in nests I haven't had one seem really ill.

Deflated and pathetic-looking compared to their normal, fully-feathered selves, but not ill-seeming.

I will say that I always feed at least 10% protein, 20% if I can get it.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

What feed do you use? I’m thinking I’m keeping mine on starter/grower w oyster on the side when they start laying, since I can’t find an organic feed above 16…

Same! My gals are almost 3yrs old and still on a 20% organic chick starter with oyster and egg shells. I do occasionally get the 16% layer feed in the hottest weather, but instincts tell me the more protein the better. The crude protein #'s on the label has changed too!