Pellets or crumbles, which is better?

[keetsms]

I feed Layena crumbles but have never tried pellets. It seems like the feed store sells out of pellets before crumbles. Am I missing something?

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Same feed, crumbles are just ground up pellets. You'll have a lot less waste with pellets.

 

[keetsms]

I am going to try pellets then. I am all about less waste. Thanks.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

You are very welcome.

 

[jennifersmith326]

My chickens will not eat the pellets. I have tried them a few times and they just don't eat them.

 

[elmo]

If your chickens are confined to a run, feeding them crumbles or mash keeps them occupied feeding longer, giving them less time to get into trouble squabbling/pecking with each other. Since eating is a chicken's primary past time, that makes sense to me.

I put my feeder inside a plastic plant saucer to contain the feed billed out and keep it from hitting the ground. This eliminates a lot of the waste from crumbles.

 

[hensonly]

Quote:
Mine too. Got some by mistake once and it took forever for them to eat it...they did NOT like the pellets.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I do wonder when folks report that their chickens didn't like pellets. I can perhaps see the bantams being challenged by the size? I dunno.
Pellets are indeed less wasteful and with feed prices sky high, they are great.

In any case, chickens don't like change. But that's the only real challenge. When I've had to change feed, for monetary or supply reasons, they balk, just like dogs or people, for that matter. I tell them, "Well, girls, that's all you're gonna get, cause that's all we have for the next 100 lbs." It's the truth. There's no option. "It's what I bought and I'm not going back to the feed store for weeks".

Seriously, I don't actually "inform" them, but they do get the hint. By day three? Their food strike caves, and they then eat it as if it were they all time favorite food. Chickens.

 

[chick4chix]

Pellets for sure! I got so sick of the waste - they would "beak out" crumbles all over the floor, and no matter how much they pecked at the ground there was still too much left on the ground - then swept up with the litter.
When I switched to pellets they ignored them, and didn't eat it for a couple of days, but I didn't give in and they eventually liked them. I love them- NO WASTE! My girls are mostly free range but when I go to fill the feeder- they come a running- so have patience- they will like them if you don't give in to their "pickiness".

 

[flowergirl60]

My chickens won't eat the pellets either. Should I quit giving them treats all together till they get hungry enough for pellets. I don't like having hungry girls.