They always get crumble feed and I don't have issues with that. It's anytime I try something different, they will bill it out like they are trying to find something else (probably those crumbs).
Your birds are more observant than mine! If it's pellets, they'll eat it, doesn't matter the brand or formula!
The only type of pellet they refused to eat, oddly enough, were the mini-pellets that some gamebird feeds come in. I had to get it once a loooong time ago because their usual was sold out, and they would have rather starved than eat it. The
smaller pellets
Ivy is a mix and when I got her the lady thought she might be mixed with Maran which is a brown egg layer. I don't see any Maran in her and the eggs are cream in color as I have a hard time distinguishing between hers and Lemon's eggs when they are both laying. Except, Lemon's egg is a little lighter. Ivy's sister was black and when I first got Ivy, I wanted them both, but the sister had already been taken.
Hmm, I would doubt Ivy has any Marans in her based on her looks and egg color, personally... I'd expect a brown egg at minimum from a Marans mix, not cream
I will just enjoy them as long as I can. I started looking into white and pure blue egg layers as it seems the rest are mixed with brown at some level from the little reading on it that I have done. Of course I won't be getting any until I have room. But also, a lot of white egg layers aren't the temperaments that I look for as I need ones that can live in harmony in confinement and also do well in the heat as well as the cold. Or take a break from it all. I don't really know at this point.
Blue eggers can be fun! As for white eggers, I can't recommend Dorkings enough. They're fat, cuddly hens who are low energy and perfect for your setup
I think only McMurray sells the large fowl anymore, though, and I'm not sure what their shipping requirements are or anything being that they're practically across the country from us.
I definitely understand the feeling of considering a break from the whole thing. You're always welcome to check in and chat here even if you do take a break from chickening.
In other news my cochin rooster, Cheddar, has been making sounds like a hen. He's been doing the long squawk like he wants some attention. He is in a sectioned off area with Lemon as he likes to start fights with Rebel even though he can't finish them.
My roosters have never really been vocal except during crowing. So, it's an interesting development. When he started I kept looking around to see which hen was doing it.
Haha, Gus does that a lot, kind of making more yak-yak-yaking sounds than the typical roostery clucks and crows. Any time he's in the coop and I go in there, it's like he's afraid I'm coming in to beat him up or something so he yak-yaks pathetically at me
Whenever I change the most minuscule bit of their feed, my chickens know that I am once again trying to kill them.
This is why I love keeping chickens, they are such dramatic characters!
I always am referring to mine as my little drama queens. Especially the roosters!
But, we tried our best! They're a little over 28 weeks old as of now, about 6 and a half months old.
