Official BYC Poll: Crumbles, Mash, or Pellets?

[JennyHeidewald]

Of course, I have a mixed flock, and prefer to feed All Flock for that reason, so I'm buying whichever form the local TSC has in stock. Nutrena has the pellet, my preference, though its more expensive (40# bag v 50#). Some other brand at the same price point is the crumble, in the larger bag.

I like Nutreana All Flock too, TSC has it on sale right now, but Purina crumbles all flock is still cheaper per #. If you sign up for Nutrena's newsletter they send out a $2 off coupon every month, that is how I get the price down. Though I have a big flock (over 100) and they go through a LOT of food.
My TSC gives a 15% discount on broken bags, too, though last time I misunderstood the clerk ( between the mask and the plexiglass between us, and I think my hearing is getting worse anyways), he said he'd give me 3% off one busted one ("Is that ok?"). I convinced myself I'd misheard him, because I had two busted bags, "3%? He MUST have said 30% off because 30% off one bag is essentially 15% off two..." I'm not so good at asking for clarification sometimes. The only reason I picked them up was because last time I was told they do 15% off. I'm kicking myself, and I'll for sure make sure next time it is15%.

One thing I never really figured out is, why do they say don't feed chickens a lot of corn, and one of the main things in the manufactured foods is corn? Is it different because it is ground up with other stuff?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

@JennyHeidewald Yes, the Purina AllFLock is the alternative I buy there, in crumbles. Didn't know about the coupon, thanks!

And even though $/lb is cheaper on the crumble, the amount my birds were throwing around, rather than eating, probably pushed it much closer to break even. They don't seem to throw the pellets so vigorously, and are better about coming back later to eat the onestheyhelped to "escape".

Back later, going to sign up for coupons!

 

[GC-Raptor]

One thing I never really figured out is, why do they say don't feed chickens a lot of corn, and one of the main things in the manufactured foods is corn? Is it different because it is ground up with other stuff?

Yes, because it's mixed with other stuff.
Corn has a lot of energy, but by itself is not very nutritious, and is low in protein.
But combine it with soybean meal and wheat Middlings, it's a powerhouse with protein, and most amino acids.
Add in necessary amino acids not found in non-animal based vegetarian feed and additional vitamins and minerals and you have a complete poultry feed.

Now adding a liberal addition of cracked corn or scratch grains may upset that balance enough to affect the egg production, and egg quality of layers and may affect the health and growth of young chickens. I don't offer Scratch Grains till 10 weeks old, 1 Tbsp daily per pullet for enrichment and as a training device to call them when free ranging.

I experienced egg quality problems with my first Flock when I gave two servings of Scratch Grains daily to a high production hybrid (red sex-links).
I cut it to one serving and quality improved.

I also experienced reduced egg production with my second Flock, Barred Rocks during the heat of summer.
I cut their daily serving of Scratch Grains in half and made a serving of wet mash with their regular feed. They also have dry feed available all day.
Egg production came back up to spring time production. GC

 

[hayleypp]

Crumble. We tried the pellets, but they were not having it...

 

[Joedeann]

I sometimes have several age groups over here, and at that time I feel it's easier for the younger one's to swallow the crumbles. I do however prefer using the pellet's as the ant's can't carry them off as easily. Either way, any of it can also be used as wet feed for them too, as we get extreme heat in the summer over here. I do the wet feed as sort of a treat for them because they love it and it helps to keep them better hydrated.

Hi, I have a rooster (about 3month) he is partially blind, he’s just not with the program. He does have a will to live, so I’m trying... he eats but not much, pecks and pecks, gets some but not enough. Do you have any suggestions with food? Should I water down the crumbles a little? Any info would be much appreciated. 1st time chicken owner.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hi, I have a rooster (about 3month) he is partially blind, he’s just not with the program. He does have a will to live, so I’m trying... he eats but not much, pecks and pecks, gets some but not enough. Do you have any suggestions with food? Should I water down the crumbles a little? Any info would be much appreciated. 1st time chicken owner.

Yes, if he is blind he might not be able to judge where the food is very well. Try wetting them down and see if that help's him. It surely can't hurt him any, right?

 

[JennyHeidewald]

Yes, because it's mixed with other stuff.
Corn has a lot of energy, but by itself is not very nutritious, and is low in protein.
But combine it with soybean meal and wheat Middlings, it's a powerhouse with protein, and most amino acids.
Add in necessary amino acids not found in non-animal based vegetarian feed and additional vitamins and minerals and you have a complete poultry feed.

Now adding a liberal addition of cracked corn or scratch grains may upset that balance enough to affect the egg production, and egg quality of layers and may affect the health and growth of young chickens. I don't offer Scratch Grains till 10 weeks old, 1 Tbsp daily per pullet for enrichment and as a training device to call them when free ranging.

I experienced egg quality problems with my first Flock when I gave two servings of Scratch Grains daily to a high production hybrid (red sex-links).
I cut it to one serving and quality improved.

I also experienced reduced egg production with my second Flock, Barred Rocks during the heat of summer.
I cut their daily serving of Scratch Grains in half and made a serving of wet mash with their regular feed. They also have dry feed available all day.
Egg production came back up to spring time production. GC

Thanks for explaining it, I figured it might be something like that!

Hi, I have a rooster (about 3month) he is partially blind, he’s just not with the program. He does have a will to live, so I’m trying... he eats but not much, pecks and pecks, gets some but not enough. Do you have any suggestions with food? Should I water down the crumbles a little? Any info would be much appreciated. 1st time chicken owner.

I've had three hens that either went blind or lost most of their vision. I'd mix up a batch of either crumbles or pellets with water and Nutridrench, and whatever other additives ( tums for the one, but that is only for hens, egg production). The one had good success with just a little glass bread loaf pan, I made a LOT of food so that when she did peck down, she had a good chance of getting it. The recent one didn't really want to eat the food unless it was in my hand. Eventually it got to the point where she didn't want to eat anything but grapes, tomatoes and fly grubs. She'd peck the food food, but most of it would go flying, or she'd get it, an then drop it if it wasn't a yummy. You might have to put the food on a raised platform, I used one of those plastic containers muffins come in to put the glass loaf on for the last chicken, and I used a brick for the second one..

 

[Basia St Clair]

I am 5 months into chicken ownership and cant thank BYC enough for starting this post!!​

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I've fretted about foods since day 1 ​

1) I started them on medicated chick crumbles because, when I purchase my baby chicks, the wonderful store clerk helped me get everything they needed. The chicks LOVED them!​

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2) I went to my local feed store to get "grower" feed when they were about 12 weeks, but discovered that it had antibiotics in it! I still have about 45 pounds of the 50 pound bag​

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3) I then bought a 10 pound bag of grower feed from Scratch and Peck and started fermenting it. The chicks love most, but at the end of the day there would be a fine layer of something black left at the bottom. They would pick everything else out. I am worried they are not getting the nutritional balance they need for egg laying.​

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4) currently, the chickens are being feed Scratch and Peck 16% layer feed (corn and soy free), fermented, but they still are picking out what they like. Like one other person who posted, i figured if I reduced the food amount, and they were hungry enough, they would eat the "bottom" of the bowl, but they didn't. Maybe i didn't let them get hungry enough.​

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5) i have on order, to arrive tomorrow, Small Pet Select Layer feed which I understand is grains and pellets mixed. I am going to try a mix of fermented and dry and see which ones they like the best.​

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My chicks are picky. They either like something or they don't. They run after a grape like a crazed soccer player, they completely ignore meal worms!​

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They have free choice oyster shell.​

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One of my chicks laid their (and my) first egg today! I know what my chickens eat go into the eggs, so I am really am trying to get this right Wonder if I am brave enough to try to make my own food some day........​

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Lots of great info on this thread. Thanks all for sharing.​

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[BarredRockMotherHen]

Hi, I have a rooster (about 3month) he is partially blind, he’s just not with the program. He does have a will to live, so I’m trying... he eats but not much, pecks and pecks, gets some but not enough. Do you have any suggestions with food? Should I water down the crumbles a little? Any info would be much appreciated. 1st time chicken owner.

Not much advice to offer but I absolutely love that you are trying to accommodate a roo that many others would have given up on. We’re also first timers. We have a small flock of 69 now and when I see one of my feathered friends looking a little distressed or being peckish with their feed I give it some cooked oatmeal with some local honey mixed in. It works every time. The honey has some amazing healing properties, not enough to cure almost blindness obviously but enough to boost the immune system for sure and the oats will fill his belly at the least. I’m not claiming to know how nutritious the oats are either, I just know mine love them as an occasional snack on a cold morning or evening. I wish you and your rooster all the best and would really like to know more about him.

 

[Araucana Nest]

I would love for my flocks to love pellets but they prefer crumbles. They don't like mash and neither do I, so we have that agreement.