Pellets vs Crumbles

[millerchix]

We recently switched to pellets as I have heard there is less waste. However, it appears the hens are just pecking through the pellets looking for the left over crumbles. Has anyone heard of this? Can/Are chickens this picky?

 

[cchardwick]

I've always used crumbles and just recently accidently got a bag of pellets. My chickens wouldn't eat them. I mix it with scratch and they picked out all the scratch and left the pellets. So I got another two bags of scratch and one of crumbles and am slowly mixing in a little of the pellets to use it up. My chickens don't lay very well if they don't have crumbles. And mixing in scratch makes it cheaper.

 

[Macro]

When I first got my ducks, they wouldn't really eat the pellets either. I thought maybe they were just a little more difficult to eat. So I added a teeny bit of water to soften it up for the first few days and supplemented with some oats. Seemed to work. Now they eat completely dry pellets.

Not chickens but... maybe similar?

 

[Ohylime]

I bought crumbles a few weeks ago instead of feed mixed with scratch. My chickens hated it and my hen even stopped laying D:<!!!!
But then I mixed some water into it and they love it... So now when I feed them I mix it with water until its soggy but still in pieces? But they finish it all and are laying again! PHEW!

Crumbles is mashed pellets right? So I prob stay with my crumbles and just mix water..cause I dont think my chickens will want pellets :/

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I have much the same issue. My girls were on crumbles but I'd read there was less waste with pellets so I switched to pellets. They take their beaks and rake the pellets onto the ground, making a much bigger mess than with the crumbles. Yes, they're searching for smaller, busted up pellets.

Am going back to crumbles as - at least for me - there's less waste with them and certainly less mess.

 

[chickenlover89]

most chickens just get attached to the crumbles. And certain chickens will just NEVER eat pellets.

 

[henpecked4ever]

i've had my best results with crumbles and scratch mixed 50 - 50. the hens lay better and if i use the correct setting on my feeder i have cut down on the waste. there seems to be just as much waste with pellets as crumbles. another way i have found to cut down on waste is to put fresh sand down in the pen and let them scratch for both pellets and scratch. gives them plenty of exercise and keeps them busy. coarse play sand gives them the craw material they need to break down the pellets. if you are going to use pellets they need plenty of gravel. good luck to ya

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I thought mixing feed and scratch was bad? Are you all having good results? I guess my info is all wrong.

Can aanyone clear this up??

 

[Roxannemc]

Sort of similar question... my son got scratch instead of crumbles .they ate it 2 days before i got the crumbles.
.What they didnt eat was what was the most % in the bag, those little brown round things. Is it milo???Have had that in wild bird seed too and they wouldnt eat it either

.Is scratch all composed of different ingredients or all the same ,different % ?Or the same % of the mix? Any recommended brands?that wasnt worth the cheap price.

 

[pdxfarmer]

I had my 4 hens on cheap Payback Layer Crumble for a couple bags worth. Then after much research I found their egg laying, including flavor color and attitude, can and would be adjusted by a healthier feed. So I switched them over to Scratch & Peck ( http://www.scratchandpeck.com/ ). Which was pretty much strait/milled grains. Halfway through that bag it became very dusty, and the girls just weren't eating it all because it was down to a sawdust, and for the first time noticed substantial waste.

I've heard good things about pellets and decided to give them a try. I picked up a bag of Buxton Layer from Buxton Feed ( http://www.buxtonfeed.com/products.html ). The ingredients are just nonGMO veggies and some molassas to bind the pellets, all things that are real/can be pronounced

Long story short the chickens treat this stuff like snacks. They absolutely go nuts. When served with a side of free choice grit and oyster shell, my hens went from average production to full tilt. We went from averaging 2 eggs a day to 4.

I'd highly suggest pellets. They'll dramatically cut back on waste.
If full healthy good stuff, your chickens will love it and never complain.
If they turn their beak up to them, give it time, eventually they'll get hungry enough, they'll make the switch.

just my two cents
pdxfarmer