From crumbles to pellets...

[bantyshanty]

Mine have lost weight when I've subjected them to pellets for a few days, as my husband makes the mistake of buying pellets some times. There's a feed store down the street that has started carrying organic layer pellets, and while I really want to buy this feed to support the store, my hens just won't accept the pellets.
I think I'll probably grind small batches in my coffee grinder, which is a large machine the size of a blender.
In my hanging feeders, pellets have been great for not dropping on the coop floor, however.

 

[saltykins]

Oh no, I hope my chickens don't show this kind of resistance to pellets. The feed store here sells layer pellets and I'm eager to switch to those once they start laying since they don't eat the dusty part of the crumbles and flick the rest everywhere. Then again, they weren't bright enough to figure out how to use the trigger feeder so maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up...

 

[partsRheavy]

Un-eaten pelllets??!!

I wish I had your problem!!!!

I literally have GOATS sneaking into the henhouse popdoor and stealing Layena pellets.

There is also a MOO-calf that stands outside the henhouse lapping up any excess pellets that might be kicked out by the hens. Yes, they have hay and cattle cube even if they had to pawn Mrs. Heifer's diamond ring to buy it...they still want that high-protein laying hen stuff!!!! 16% > 12%

I tell the GOAT and the Calf that I expect XXL-JUMBO eggs any day now.....

The babies are on crumbles of course but no pellet goes un-eaten around here!!!

 

[gritsar]

 

[LizaBlue]

Hilarious. Yeah, my dogs love chicken food too, in any form, even pre-digested

As to mixing it with water, I've tried that. I've mixed with water, with milk, with almond milk, canned fruit, and they still act like they'd rather suck their toes than eat pellet food. I just don't get it! At least my flock looks fat and healthy, and are laying 5-7 eggs a day for 7 hens, so I guess I shouldn't worry about it.

 

[dabb]

My husband went to Tractor Supply and bought crumbles today. The girls acted like they haven't eaten in weeks. I tried to mix the pellets in with the crumbles (to trick them) but I guess I'm the dummy-went out 15 min later and they had knocked the feed around trying to get the crumbles-pellets all over the ground not a crumble insight. It was Purina brand pellets and crumbles by the way.

 

[secuono]

I've tried different brands, only one brand softens easily, rest takes forever. But it might be better since it will be a middle ground from soft pellets to hard ones.

I've also had chicks eat a ton of styrofoam, no ill effects, birds just love the stuff more than anything...idk why. lol.

My dogs eat all sorts of nasty stuff. From rabbit & guinea pig poo to horse poo. My little dog loves to eat chicken meat that's been outside for bare minimum a day b4 she will even consider eating it...ew.

 

[openheartnp]

I've accidentally made mine jealous by isolating the baby chick with her starter crumbles and the rescue half-beaked hen with her layer mash. So, when I feed the rest their pellet/crumble mix in the same containers, they think it's the best thing in the world. But it works. UGH, just like kids.

 

[AlienChick]

I have never had any waste with the crumbles, but while I was at the feed store I bought a bag of pellets of the same brand as the crumbles (Blue Seal).

I didn't think my chickens would eat it, but they gobbled it up like it was nothing.

So I don't know if it's the brand or if they just have no preference between crumbles or pellets.

I also found out that the pellets are almost a dollar cheaper than the crumbles, so I guess I'll be buying pellets from now on.

 

[KSTALL]

I accidently bought a bag of pellets. They hate it! I ended up crushing it up just a little and they seem to nibble at it more than the full size pellets.