no laying on layer pellet anyone else

[the simple life]

Mine did not like the pellets and I had to add crumbles to their feeder to get them to finally eat the last of the pellets.
They were picking through the pellets looking for the crumbles.

I have 50 chickens and I use the crumbles in the different feeders for the different flocks and I never have any waste at all.
Its the same ingredients and if the crumbles make them happy so be it.
I throw some oyster shell in the feeder as well. They will eat what they need of it.

I also like the crumbles because you can make the hot mash out of it on those cold winter mornings or even before they go to roost at night. It keeps them warm.
The crumbles mixed with cracked corn or scratch and some very hot water, stir it all up and serve. They are very content after eating that during cold weather.
You can't make hot mash out of the pellets and I like to have food that is multi purpose.

I don't really notice any excessive powder from the crumbles. They are bigger than the chick starter which can get powdery but haven't noticed it with the layer crumbles.
Any time you stress the chickens they are not going to lay and switching to a food they don't like or aren't use to will do that.

 

[Beekissed]

Could be the time of year...I know mine are still in full molt and I am not getting the usual number of eggs because of this. They also are not eating as much as usual during this time.

 

[MamaDragon]

I've had our bunch on layer pellets since we got them in May. They were on crumbles with their provious owner. After about a week they finally figured out that it was either eat the pellets or not eat. They did have a slow-down in the laying, but we attributed that to the change in location / coop setup. (Our flock was bought from a neighbor for our son).

Our hens did have a slow-down late August, early September.... we increased their scratch "snack" in the afternoons, and started supplementing with more protein. The laying picked right back up. Now I think they've hit the end-of-moult and less daylight slow-down. Figures - I just got a contract for 7 dozen eggs a week, and the girls are only giving 2 - 5 eggs a day. Murphy's Law strikes again!

We'll be changing over to FlockRaiser this coming weekend - I've got too many chicks, adolescents, and roosters to keep them all on layer pellets. I've always had oyster-shell out "free choice" so the hens still have the additional calcium that they need, and the rest don't get what they don't need.

Kathy

 

[ladyarrow]

I went three months after i got my chickens without eggs.Maybe TWenty eggs the whole time.Started reading ingredients bought flock raiser. higher protein.chickens started laying more and more each week.I have 22 layers.I usually get about 15.16.17only as low as 10,once i got 20.I feed them that once a day and scratch and cracked corn in morning. 46 ounces of food in morning and 46 ounces at night.They get grass and scraps for treats during the day.i feel like its down to a science.LOL Ladyarrow