Not a fan of new food

[miles2go480]

I have 21 hens and 2 roosters that are 8 months old. They have been good layers and healthy looking since birth. About 6 weeks ago I noticed a couple hens with feathers missing from their butts. I thought it was mites as there were black spots near skin around feathers. Treated with Elector PSP. Cleaned the coop. Sprayed roost, nesting boxes as well as the sand in the floor and walls with the PSP. After a few weeks expected to see new feathers but found more of my girls with naked butts. Also over the past 3 weeks they are eating less. I changed their food because they were flicking it out on the ground. Went from Purina organic to Dumor Organic. They stopped flicking the food out of the feeder on the ground, but also stopped eating much. I let them free range a couple of hours each day. I give 2 trays of a mix of scratch grains and dry fly grubs (about 2 soup cans of each) every morning while I clean the coop and run. Could the food be the issue? I have 60 pounds of this food left.

 

[sourland]

Chickens hate change. When changing feed it is always a good idea to add increasing amounts of the new to old feed to gradually accomplish the change.

 

[MadamContrary]

Agreed, you need to mix feed to switch. My birds hate dumor, it smells off to me too. Nature's best and Nutrena Meat bird (this stuff smells like a delicious Italian meal, oregano!) are my bird's favorite feed.

 

[miles2go480]

Chickens hate change. When changing feed it is always a good idea to add increasing amounts of the new to old feed to gradually accomplish the change.

Thanks for the input. Should have thought about that. Still gotta figure out how to get them to eat it. Maybe make mash with it.

 

[NatJ]

Still gotta figure out how to get them to eat it. Maybe make mash with it.

I was just going to suggest that

 

[miles2go480]

Agreed, you need to mix feed to switch. My birds hate dumor, it smells off to me too. Nature's best and Nutrena Meat bird (this stuff smells like a delicious Italian meal, oregano!) are my bird's favorite feed.

Where do you get Nutrena? Haven't seen at Tractor Supply

 

[MadamContrary]

Where do you get Nutrena? Haven't seen at Tractor Supply

That's actually where I get it. Might be a regional thing, you can put in a request with the manager to carry specific items at any major retail chain. They also do shipping to home or store.

 

[MadamContrary]

That's actually where I get it. Might be a regional thing, you can put in a request with the manager to carry specific items at any major retail chain. They also do shipping to home or store.

Also I'll add I pay $15-17 per 40lbs for price reference if you look into shipping Nutrena. Some places seriously price gouge.

 

[My Three Chicks]

You can also try fermenting their feed (works with pellet, crumble, but best with whole grains). It increases the nutrition and a lot less waste.
I ferment everyday and the girls eat it up. They are less interested in their regular ol pellet feed.

 

[miles2go480]

How do you ferment feed?