Ladies don't like layer pellets

[evanbb]

Hi Poultry Fanciers,

We've got a little flock of picky birds. An ISA X and 2 silkies. They browse freely through the yard during the day and I actualy don't really know what they eat. They seem to like it. I bought some laying pellets the other day, mostly because it seemed like a good idea, but also partly because we're about to restrict their movements a bit and so probably their diet. They've shown no interest at all in the pellets. I've got no idea why. Will they come around to it once they're hungry enough?

EB

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Will they come around to it once they're hungry enough

?

They will figure it out in a few days​

 

[pardenx3]

Ours had layer pellets and never did eat them. We switched to crumbles after about 3 or 4 days and they tore them up like they were starving to death! Don't know why.

 

[kristen2678]

Same here. Mine never took to the pellets. They'll suck down whole sunflower seeds, but not a pellet. We switched to the crumbles and they are fine. Even though they free range, they should still have a layer ration available.

 

[asher]

Mine prefer the crumbles as well. Just be sure the feeder is such that they cannot get in their and scatter it as they will waste it easier than pellets, IMO.

It will take a bit to get them used to eating feed only compared to free ranging. After all, if you went from an all you can eat buffet to having hamburgers every day only, would you be happy? ;-)

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

did you slowly introduce the pellets to your hen or just stick them in the feeder, most hens, if they have been raised on a different feed will not take to a big change unless you give it to them slowly mixed with what they have been eating

 

[Southernbelle]

Mine wasted the crumbles, so I switched to pellets and it took them about 3 days to fully accept them, but now there's much less waste! I would toss a few handfuls on the ground (like I do with scratch) to trick them into thinking I was throwing down a treat. That started them eating the pellets. I call my chickens snobs because they'd much rather have kitchen scraps than chicken feed, so yours probably prefer free ranging than chicken feed, but they'll start eating it when they get hungry.

 

[chicken boy sam]

I've never tried this, but I guess chickens love yogurt so maybe you could mix it with that!

 

[Deanner03]

Quote:
You could put poop in yogurt, and my chickens would eat it

It's worth a try!

 

[gjfarm]

Mine prefer crumbles also. They would hardly eat the pellets and would just waste mash. Sometimes it is hard to find the crumbles.