Pellets vs crumble

[shmccarthy]

This may be a silly question, but is the feed ration for layer pellets different than for layer crumbles? I usually buy purina layer crumbles but accidentally bought pellets this time and didn't notice until I opened the bag. Is this going to be a huge difference for the hens? And because of the size difference will they eat more/less. I have had my hens over eating before resulting in a lot of double yolk eggs. I'm just curious if anyone knows?

 

[SunnySkies]

My chickens ate less when I tried pellets....because they beaked it all out and looked at me like, lady, this is NOT what we eat. LOL

 

[Percheron chick]

Crumbles are simply pellets that have been run through a roller to slightly crush them. Mine will eat more crumbles than pellets.

 

[Arielle]

I had n't heard that double yolks were caused by over eating; it is just 2 yolk ready at the same time. THe hen has several "yolks" developing so that one is ready everyday.

My birds over eat on good stuff like scraps, seeds and grasses-- tastes far better than pellets, so IMO I think you are ok feeding either. Many fiend pellets are wasted less than crumbles. I only feed crumles tot he chicks and get them to pellets asap.

This is how I do; other opionions will vary.

 

[Lisa Harmon]

I wondered too! New at this, and find alot of the crumbles on the ground around the feeder and they just leave it there. Seems like crumbles get wasted...

 

[chocbantamorps]

I only fed crumbles to my chicks until they reached adult size at 18 weeks and then I switched to the pellets for layers. My chickens billed out both the crumbles and pellets until I bought a feeder that prevents them doing that. It holds 11 pounds of chicken food and it saves a lot of money for me, I only fill it about once a week and does not leave the billed out food on the ground to attract rats. Here is the citation at Amazon for the feeder I am very happy with: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Giant-...1371607480&sr=8-1&keywords=little+giant+phf11. It is called little giant 11 lbs plastic hanging poultry feeder phf11 in case the above url doesn't work. Have fun with your chicks.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I only fed crumbles to my chicks until they reached adult size at 18 weeks and then I switched to the pellets for layers. My chickens billed out both the crumbles and pellets until I bought a feeder that prevents them doing that. It holds 11 pounds of chicken food and it saves a lot of money for me, I only fill it about once a week and does not leave the billed out food on the ground to attract rats. Here is the citation at Amazon for the feeder I am very happy with: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Giant-...1371607480&sr=8-1&keywords=little+giant+phf11. It is called little giant 11 lbs plastic hanging poultry feeder phf11 in case the above url doesn't work. Have fun with your chicks.

I have three of these feeders in different sizes and love them. I don't have a problem with them billing or scratching out the feed. I hang them so that they're about the same height as the birds back. That way they can't scratch the feed out. The baffles built into the feeder prevents them from billing it out. The only problem I have is if my one heavy-legged girl gets to doing some major scratching when near the feeder. She will have whatever she's scratching flying so high through the air that it will land on top the feed tray. I just brush it off.

Only problem is no cover for the top to prevent anything from falling into the feed. One of the feeder sizes - think 7 lb. - is a perfect fit for a plastic coffee can lid. I just made two slices to allow the lid to go around the hanger and cover the top.

I feed crumbles until they go to layer feed and then it's pellets. That's what my older girls prefer and what they're already on so the new chicks will have to adjust when they get to layer feed age.