Not happy with the feed store today!

[EweSheep]

Quote:

And they can carry their own eggs for payment for the feed!

 

[annie3001]

Went out and bought some crumble feed for the girls yesterday!!!! spoiled brats!!! the chickens acted like the've never eaten in their life!!!!

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Saw someone say when they get hungry enough they'll eat the pellets, Not So, mine went Days without touching the stuff and a friend of mine nearly starved her chickens when she realized they Refused the pellets completely....so its not like a dog or cat that are just being stubborn and are waiting for the feed they like. The pellets are larger and some chickens dont know how to eat them, mine are all bantams and have no clue How to eat a pellet.

 

[gritsar]

When I was concerned about whether my silkies could eat the larger pellets or not, I did a simple test. I threw some pellets on the ground as a treat. When my silkies were the first to gobble them up, the whole coop got switched to pellets. I do however make the effort to find them the smaller pellets.

In my adult coop the pellets are pretty dang big. The sparrows and wild finches that get in that coop seem to have no problem with the pellets. If they can, so can the banties.

 

[madimorg]

Quote:
I agree. I buy crumbles sometimes and pellets sometimes for my girls and they never seem to even notice or care. Out of 31 chickens no one has turned up a beak yet. I think it's like it would be with other animals and kids... if they get hungry enough they'll eat it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I twice got pellets after asking for crumbles. My hens hate pellets but they won't starve to death. I have to check the tag on the bags before I leave the store from now on.

 

[secuono]

mine HATE pellets....I still have that first bag from months ago...it's going into the garden
I now make sure I ask for crumbles, I check the tags before the guy puts them in my car, too.

 

[chickensbythesea]

My first batch of birds refused pellets for days, and I spent an hour and got some awesome blisters crumbling pellets by hand. After deciding that was not working at all, I realized adding hot water and stirring turned it into a totally palatable cream of wheat consistency. Threw some solid pellets on top. Every day a little less water, and a little less mixing, and after about a week, they were totally content with pellets.

Since they eat them, the subsequent hens eat them, because they're certainly not going to miss out on food.

 

[ginormous chicken]

After starter feed I switched directly to pellets. I like it because it is less waste and since my feeders aren't hanging I don't have a ring of crumble everywhere.


I do know that birds aren't like dogs. My vet. said it was the difference between predators and prey. The whole, leave it- they'll eat when they are hungry, works for dogs and cats. Their digestive tracks are such as they can feast and famine in the wild. Sure we feed our dogs and cat everyday ( I hope) but they will live if you don't. Birds however are prey and need to eat constantly, like parrots and chickens, will literally starve themselves rather than eat what they don't like. My parrot eats ONLY Harrison organics. I tried to push her on Roudybush (exotic bird owners, you know what I am talking about) and she lost a lot of weight where I got worried and switched her back. Chickens are the same thing. Not to say they shouldn't try new things, but the introduction has be to gradual and can't be pushed. Like someone said, when their chickens didn't eat, it affected egg production. They are picky little things!

 

[silkiechicken]

I must not have picky birds, even my silkies switch from crumble starter to pellets at 4 months old or so and never have an issue.