Food issue

[MamaChick70]

Good evening my chicken people, I hope someone can help me. So I have 8 week old sex link girls and I just started them on grower ( looks like pellets) and they are refusing to eat. They want NOTHING to do with this new food. They were on medicated starter crumble. When they ate the starter they loved the corn that was in there, and I think that’s what they are looking for. Any suggestions what else I can feed them? I am not talking about treats but their food. They are forging during the day in our run, and the coop is open that is where the food is.

 

[GC-Raptor]

So I have 8 week old sex link girls and I just started them on grower ( looks like pellets) and they are refusing to eat. They want NOTHING to do with this new food. They were on medicated starter crumble.

Yeah pellets can be a hard sell to pullets.
I keep mine on Crumbles.
I've never switched to pellets before 16 weeks.
This is how I did it. I mixed the pellets and crumbles 50/50 for 2 weeks and I mixed pellets into their Scratch Grains and tossed on the ground. They immediately gobbled up the pellets and Scratch.
I take it you don't have any crumbles left.
If you give Scratch as a treat try mixing with that.
If neither is possible, toss the pellets into a blender 1 cup at a time or a larger amount in a food processor and pulse till you get crumbles.
Slowly day to day pulse less to make larger crumbles until they are happy with pellets.
I haven't fed Pellets in 3 years. I feed my hens and pullets older than 10 weeks a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower 18% with Oyster Shells separately. GC

 

[MamaChick70]

thank you - I had an unopened starter crumble bag. I opened that and mixed it with the pellets.
When I went to the store I just said I needed grower and that is what they gave me - I know better now. What exactly is “scratch”. Is that a treat?

 

[GC-Raptor]

What exactly is “scratch”. Is that a treat?

Yes, it's a mixture of whole grains, seeds and cracked corn. It's an enrichment to entertain the owner and chickens.
You toss on the ground and once the chickens realize its delicious they go nuts for it. It may take a week for Pullets to catch on. I give my first treat of Scratch Grains at 10 weeks old.
When my hens, 23 months old and pullets, 14 weeks old see me with the coffee can with Scratch inside they run to the gate.
If you free range your chickens, it's a good way to call them back to the pen/coop.
I shake the can and say chook chook and they crowd around me.
A small amount should be given, a Tbsp per chicken daily. 2 Tablespoons in the winter.
It is not fortified with essential nutrients, it's chicken candy.

I give my 5 pullets one scoop 1/8 cup twice daily, scattered in their pen.

GC