Laying mash vs 14% protein layer pellets

[aart]

Mine eat up the crumble dust at bottom of feeder pretty well.
Maybe once a week or so I don't add as much crumble so they 'clean their plate'.
Have wetted it in another dish on occasion also.

 

[snow5164]

I’m wondering if mine are just not that hungry? If I leave just the dust , it’s still there the next day til I remove it and ferment....... I’m thinking spoiled ?

 

[aart]

I’m wondering if mine are just not that hungry? If I leave just the dust , it’s still there the next day til I remove it and ferment....... I’m thinking spoiled ?

Might be that dust is more different from pellets than crumble is.
They can be picky about 'texture and form',
Have read numerous issues when changing forms of feed(mash/crumble/pellet) that it can take some time for them to adjust.
Crumble can be rather 'dusty' at times anyway, so mine are used to eating smaller pieces. There have been uncrushed pellets in the crumble feed, often they are 'left in the dust'.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I imagine that vitamins, minerals and amino acids, (the ingredients added as powders to the manufacturing process) don't taste all that good.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi. Someone recently told me that they give their laying hens 14% protein pellets and their hens lay really well. However, I would like to know if I can switch from Laying mash to 14% protein layer pellets. Would there be any adverse effects?

I did not see where you mentioned what you are feeding now as far as analysis. Most feeds have a label on the bag that shows the analysis as well as ingredients. The percent protein and calcium could be important information. If you are getting the feed from a small mill you can probably ask for the analysis.

What breeds or types are your hens? The needs of the commercial hybrids are different from the needs of larger dual purpose breeds.

You did not mention how you are feeding that mash. Mash is often wetted and fed more as a paste than a powder so the ingredients stay mixed instead of the heavier parts settling to the bottom. That's why they make pellets and crumbles, so the different parts do not sort themselves out by weight. Even if some powder develops from pellets or crumble the part that does not become powder should still have the right mix of ingredients.

Have your hens been de-beaked? That is where the upper beak is clipped off to keep them from eating each other if they are kept in tight spaces, like some commercial operations. De-beaked hens are usually fed a wetted mash as they may have trouble eating pellets or crumble.

What else are your chickens eating other than the chicken feed? Do they forage for part of their food or do you feed then a significant quantity of high or low protein or calcium treats or foods? Do you offer a calcium supplement like oyster shells on the side? It's not about how much protein or calcium is in one bite, it's how many total grams of protein or calcium they eat in a day, and even that is averaged over several days.

Will there be any adverse effects if you switch? Maybe, maybe not. Any of these things might or might not have an effect.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I haven't seen another post from the OP so no answers to our questions.

 

[aart]

I haven't seen another post from the OP so no answers to our questions.

Less than 24 hours ....so I haven't given up hope yet.