New chickens won't eat layer feed

[Cindlady]

A few weeks ago I got 5 hens less than 2yr old, they have been free range which I do too. However I feed my other chickens layer feed, corn, and "greens" in winter. The new ones seem only interested in the corn and some of the greens. I would like them eating layer feed too because I feel it gives them a good "base feed". How do I get them interested? I tried making a mash, I tired scattering it. I tried just feeding them just layer feed. Grrrr, seems they would rather starve!

 

[Badbaby05]

What type of feed was they on previously?? Maybe they was crumbles kinda chickens...

 

[twentynine]

They won't starve, they will eat it.

Just like a kid, they will eat when they get hungry enough.

 

[Judy]

You'll have to get the corn away from them first. Like children and sweets, they will eat corn and not "real food" if its available. Corn or scratch is like chicken candy, not nearly as nutritious as feed, and should be given as a treat only. Then when they get hungry enough they will eat the feed.

Mine eat very little feed when they are free to forage and there is a lot of stuff out there growing, and lots of bugs. In the winter they eat a lot more feed.

 

[sheaviance1]

I have fed my chickens the crumbles their entire life. They won't touch a pellet with your beak.

 

[Carolyn]

Are they laying good? Are they loosing weight? Maybe they are more effecient free rangers and prefer to rustle for their own feed. You might want to make sure it is broken before you try to fix it. Just my opinion.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

Quote:
They won't touch a pellet with my beak, but I bet they would with their beaks if they were hungry.

 

[cgtara3]

We tried pellets and crumble. Put them in different containers. Also mixed water in with the crumble. They ate it then. Maybe thought it was some new food.

 

[Cindlady]

Sorry, I'm not sure what exactly the prior owner feed them... I saw a pan with pellets and corn but don't know what kind.

Well, I cut way back on the corn and what they do get, gets mixed with the pellets. They have started to pick at the pellets. I also tried making mash which only 3 seem to be eating. I've only gotten 4 eggs from them so far and I think they all came from the same hen, but I could be wrong. (I should mark their butts) Maybe once their out of quarantine they will do better. Just a little over a week to go!

Thanks all!

 

[twentynine]

Quote:
They won't touch a pellet with my beak, but I bet they would with their beaks if they were hungry.

So right, they will not starve. Those chickens will eat pellets and Lord only knows what else.