Not eating feed

[Simpleman1]

My 6 months old pullet is quite reluctant in eating layer feed and she hasn't started laying any eggs yet..She eats wheat though but not layer feed.
Does anyone know what might be the reason?

 

[Ridgerunner]

She prefers the wheat. If you want her to eat more of the other feed cut back on the wheat. That is actually pretty common behavior, they often prefer things over their main feed.

Who knows why a six month old pullet isn't laying. Over the years I've had a few start at four months, some wait over nine months. They lay when they lay.

Good luck!

 

[Ranger3]

So I am just switching over my 18 week old chickens to layer from grower, and they are not having it. They don't like the new feed. If I make them tough it out will they start eating it when they get hungry enough or do I need to give them a different feed? They were getting the chick crumbles and I am switching them now to pellets.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Try making a mash by mixing water with the new feed. Only use an amount of feed that they will eat in a day to avoid mold. Then slowly add the dry feed. Is the new feed crumble or pellet. My chickens don’t like the pellet.

 

[Ranger3]

It is a pellet. I did try the mash, and they do eat that a little bit. But thank you for the reminder about the mold; I"ll be sure to watch out for that. I like the pellet because the crumble really is a waste of feed. There is so much fine stuff in it that they don't eat. I feel like I'm only getting a half a bag of feed out of every bag of crumbles. I'm just wondering how long it will take them to accept the feed, or if they just won't and I'll have to go back to crumbles.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

When they get hungry enough, they should eat it. Just keep an eye out.......good luck!

 

[chickens really]

I never use layer feed. I feed Grower/Finisher and have oyster shell out in a separate bowl.

 

[Mosey2003]

If it's the only option, they will eat. They might not like it, but they will not starve to death when there is feed available.

 

[Ranger3]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I came home to my first egg from this group today!! So now I'm feeling pretty bad that I'm forcing them to eat something they don't like. So I'm off to the feed store in the morning.
Wondering Crazy, why don't you use layer?

 

[chickens really]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I came home to my first egg from this group today!! So now I'm feeling pretty bad that I'm forcing them to eat something they don't like. So I'm off to the feed store in the morning.
Wondering Crazy, why don't you use layer?

I believed your asking me?..I'm a little Crazy although my user name is chickens really..
I have a Rooster and always young Pullets in my Flock. Plus my Birds never did as well on a layer feed.