Ladies not happy about pellets....

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
How old are your chickens? I know I tried putting mine on pellets at about 6 months old and they gave me so much attitude about it I put them back on crumbles. Just tried pellets again now that they are about 1 1/2 years old and they made the switch with no trouble at all. Even seem to enjoy the pellets more then the crumbles. The last couple bags of Purina Layena Crumbles I've gotten seemed to be getting finer and dustier with each bag so I think the girls were happy to switch.

 

[imusa76]

I tried the switch, and all 6 Pullets refued to eat it, the would empty the feeder on the floor then scrach the floor looking for food, and never eat all of it.
we then tried to mix it, they would eat the crumble, and not the pellets, so I gave up (they win). they have less wasted food with the crumble.

 

[Laigaie]

Before we bought our pullets, they were on crumbles, but we're pellet folk. Took 'em most of a day and a half before they gave in and ate the pellets. It looked like they weren't so much refusing to eat them as having trouble figuring out how to eat them. Now, they're fine. Be patient, withhold treats, and they'll come around.

 

[dewey]

Maybe try moistening the pellets a little at first then withdraw the moisture over a couple of days until they're eating it dry?

 

[keetsms]

My hens made the switch, but I did wean them off of crumbles. The reduction of waste is well worth it.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
No. Yes.

Try putting some in a pan and wetting it. You can even sprinkle things they especially like over the top. The pellets will absorb the water & the whole thing becomes like oatmeal. Then you could gradually serve this with less & less water until they get more used to eating the larger dry bits.

Do this^^^^. Then tell those picky birds to build a bridge and get over it. Withhold the treats for a few days and you'll be shocked at how fast they come around to liking pellets.

 

[cowdogcadillac]

They Will eat it. They will not starve. You have spoiled chickens. Make them sit at the table till they eat it.

Alot less waste of food when they switch

 

[kla37]

I made it through the first day of some very ticked off chickens. I feel horrible though. I will keep trying to tough it out. I may try moistening some tomorrow afternoon if they don't seem to eat much. How much do you think your birds eat in pellets? They would beak out so much of the crumbles into the run that I don't really know how much of it they actually ate!

 

[GarlicEater]

Quote:
I have a word for gals who don't like pellets: Tough.

I learned to eat lots of things when I was a kid turning into a teen because I got HUNGRY.

Mine were ticked at me when I stopped feeing them scratch as a staple. They'll just .... deal.

I give my gals treats like greens, scraps, etc. so they're not going to starve. Heck I'm surprised they didn't go on strike when I moved them to their new coop - moving them seemed to be pretty traumatic (although it was the roosters who complained loudly).

 

[kla37]

Day 2, and they have beaked out some pellets and eaten some of it, but they sure aren't going at it with any kind of gusto. I'm trying to stay strong!