Pellets or crumble, and why?

[featherhead007]

My "chicks" are 1.5 years old. Laying hens!

 

[Ducklover2]

HAS ANYONE ASKED THE CHICKENS WHAT THEY PREFER? kidding

You could put 2 bowls and see which one the chickens go for first.

 

[featherhead007]

You could put 2 bowls and see which one the chickens go for first.

Now we are thinking!

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

I use a seed mix for laying hens. I don’t like pellets or crumbles!

 

[Mechtel8989]

I use a seed mix for laying hens. I don’t like pellets or crumbles!

I have soon to be laying hens, still chicks. Is there a reason you use seed mix instead of the others? Does it effect there egg laying?

 

[X_and_Z]

I probably provide too many options for my girls, but they get a whole grain based commercial feed both dry and fermented + a crumble dry in a separate feeder.

Both feeds are organic, non-GMO starter/grower (egg/oyster shell on the side). The whole grain based feed is far, far more popular than the crumble. I am planning to change crumble brands (since a better brand just became available at my local feed store) so I will be able to see if that makes a difference in their preferences.

I would love to mix my own whole grain based feed, but I don't go through enough feed for it to be worthwhile.

 

[Kiki]

Seed mixes can SOMETIMES cause a problem is the birds only choose to eat certain seeds out of the mix.

I hope you are not meaning you feed scratch as their normal diet.

 

[bruceha2000]

HAS ANYONE ASKED THE CHICKENS WHAT THEY PREFER? kidding

Is it FOOD? Then they have no preference, at least mine wouldn't.

I prefer pellets for my adults. As mentioned more waste with crumbles. Likely a lot more waste with whole grains unless they were all equally desired by the chickens. Definitely use starter for chicks although they would probably try to down a whole pellet if they found one.

 

[X_and_Z]

Seed mixes can SOMETIMES cause a problem is the birds only choose to eat certain seeds out of the mix.

I hope you are not meaning you feed scratch as their normal diet.

I feed:
https://www.scratchandpeck.com/shop/naturally-free-grower/

Both dry and fermented. They don't seem to pick anything out but the fines are difficult for them to eat (hence feeding fermented).

 

[Beer can]

I prefer mash from a local feed mill, less processed than crumbles or pellets. It's basically the same thing just not pressed into shape. It's powder and crushed/cracked grains and legumes and everything else that goes into regular commercial feed.
Makes it a lot cheaper skipping the pelletizing process, $10 for 50lbs.
Ferments better also, I can use as much water as I want and it doesn't turn into slop/mush, water runs right off it.