Pellets or crumbles?

[Shamo Hybrid]

I used to feed them crumbles when they were small until I switched them up to pellets once they got older. I had to get a bag of crumble again and it seems like they are avoiding the small crumbles which are like dust so it just settles in their feeder without being eaten. In my next bag of feed I'm gonna go ahead and put them on pellets again. To compare pellets with crumbles, in the end they both weight 50 lbs (supposedly) so it's not like you're getting more from one type of feed to the other...... it really just depends on what your chickens prefer. Some folks like crumbles because they can ferment it and make mash out of it, others prefer pellets because they see it as less waste as opposed to crumbles where sometimes a bag is full of 'dust' and gets lost in the ground when the chickens are eating and spill it all over, and then not being able to scratch and find it to consume later on.

 

[Duck_life]

crumbles, I get mine $5 for 50lb bag.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

crumbles, I get mine $5 for 50lb bag.

How is that possible?
What brand? Does it have an assay and guaranteed analysis tag?

 

[red horse ranch]

Some of my birds prefer pellets and some prefer crumbles. So I have a large can that I mix the two together. Right now I also have some young guineas and peafowl that live with the chickens. So I mix grower crumble with the layer pellets. They all cost around $14 for 50 lb bag right now.

A lot of the adult birds free range so I use All Flock All Grain in the outdoor feeders. It is more expensive at around $15.50 a bag. But they rarely ever waste it.

 

[Compost King]

I prefer Pellets but they clog up some of my feeders so I go with crumbes. It all depends on your needs and feed set up... and even your chickens. Some breeds or individual chickens spill crumbles and never eat them off the ground, others will eat crumbles right off the ground before they go to the feeder (My Dorkings are like that). Some people ferment feed and prefer Crumbles some people have neat contraptions to catch spilt crumbles and then mix that with table scraps so it doesn't go to waste etc etc etc. It all depends on your chickens and situation.

 

[Danny188]

Thanks for all the replies i will probably stick with what i have for now. Thanks for all the insights.

 

[HopeSprings]

I just bought a bag of "crumbles" that so fine all I can do is mix it with water to make mash. They love mash and I give it to them every afternoon, but now I've got to go back and buy another bag for the feeders! They're 11 weeks old and I may try the pellets.

 

[PirateGirl]

Pellets or crumbles does not factor into my feed choice. The birds readily eat whatever I give them. I prefer an 18-20% all flock feed since I have both chickens and ducks, male and female, duckling through adult. Then depending which feed store I am at I select whatever all flock they have in stock at the best price (some brands are pellets, some are crumbles). Also by feeding a higher protein feed I do not worry too much how that may drop when I cut in extra treats and supplements. I would not recommend feeding layer feed to birds that are not actively laying. There are plenty of alternative grower feeds that are sufficient. Just because you have birds of a certain age does not mean they will lay any day. My first laid at about 5 months, the last at 11 months. Every bird is different.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I just bought a bag of "crumbles" that so fine all I can do is mix it with water to make mash. They love mash and I give it to them every afternoon, but now I've got to go back and buy another bag for the feeders! They're 11 weeks old and I may try the pellets.

Do you ever check the mill date on the feed bag to insure it is fresh?

 

[GC-Raptor]

I just bought a bag of "crumbles" that so fine all I can do is mix it with water to make mash. They love mash and I give it to them every afternoon, but now I've got to go back and buy another bag for the feeders! They're 11 weeks old and I may try the pellets.

Yeah, I hate it when I open a bag of Crumbles and it's mostly powder.
You could try this All-Flock Pellet. . It's available at TSC.
Nutrena Country Feeds All-Flock Pellets is available at independent farm and feed.
These are safe to feed to Chickens over 7 weeks old. GC