Mash - Crumble What is the difference

[binders]

What is the difference between mash and crumble? I can only find crumble and pellets at my feed stores and was wondering what is mash?

 

[Stacykins]

Mash is often the custom made mix that feed stores mix and sell. Since they don't have the equipment usually to make pellets or crumble, it is instead a powder. Often, people add water to their chicken's daily ration of mash, as it'll almost form a moist crumble when mixed with water.

 

[binders]

So is it finer than the crumble you can get? Do you mix it up with water for a daily feed? Wonder why we don't have it around here?

So many questions - Can you tell I'm a newbie.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

My local mill makes mash and I buy it every week.
The starter is finer than that I get from the local feed stores so my tiny chicks can eat it a lot better. The mash took soem getting used to but they do not waste it like they do the pellets or crumbles. They eat whole grains out of it and then nibble down the rest. With the pellets and crumbles they were constantly raking it out of the hopper looking for something good to eat and then walking all over the food. I went through way too much money with pellets so when I started feeding the mash I put it in those 3 or 5 qt rubber tubs and they vacuum it up every day. Now I can put the mash in the hoppers and know they don't rake it out.

The only time I wet it is when I make my special sauces for them and add rolled oats, wheat bran flax meal, red pepper flakes etc.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Here is a picture that shows the difference between Mash, Crumble and Pellet from left to right.

Most feed mills that mix there own feed will have Mash feed (starter, grower, layer)

Chris

 

[binders]

Quote:
Special sauces - sounds good. Sounds like they like it.
I just changed feed brands and the new stuff is much corser grounds. My chickens were acting like it was a treat. I think it was a good thing to change.

Thanks all for educating me.

 

[binders]

Quote:
Here is a picture that shows the difference between Mash, Crumble and Pellet from left to right.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_100_44781.jpg

Most feed mills that mix there own feed will have Mash feed (starter, grower, layer)

Chris

Thanks Chris. A picture is worth a thousand words. I can now see that my grower crumble was really more of a mash and the crumble I just got is really a crumble. I can truely say that my chickens seem to like the crumble a lot more than the mash.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Add a bit of water and stir. Mash becomes virtually identical to crumbles.
Since my local mills grind mash, and the price is sooooo much better than the "formed" feeds of either crumble or pellet, that's what the hens get and they love it.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Yeah, I do like the price. I get 50# for about $10.50 for starter, layer is $10.
The price just came down so I think that is right.
Unlike feed stores, my local mill will adjust prices as they can get the raw products.
When was the last time you saw your feed store drop prices on feed, especially 50 cents a bag??

 

[vsmenagerie]

We have mash and my hens will eat it dry but they definitely prefer it wet. It only takes an extra minute to add water. I like that its local, and fresh. My chicks devour the mash they have, wet or dry, they could care less. The older ones are a little pickier haha And yea, its like $4-5 less per bag. And again, its local. They have their own grain fields too!