Pullets won't eat pellets

[babbychickens]

One is 4 and a half months old, the other two are 3 and a half months old. The produce store that my mum gets the feed from said to start giving them laying pellets. Even though I kept nagging her, by the time she got them, most of the crumbles we're gone so I couldn't incorporate the new feed slowly into their diet (although I tried).

Anyways, they barely eat it. I used to have to top up their food around 3 times a day and now it's only 1 and they don't even finish that. Also, I see in their poop that the feed is not digesting properly, coming out as full pellets. When they do produce 'normal' poops, they're orange. Should I switch back to crumbles or will they get used to the new feed? It's just that my mum bought a 90 kilo bag of the pellets (even though I told her not to buy in such quantities in case there are any problems with it).

 

[danceswithronin]

One is 4 and a half months old, the other two are 3 and a half months old. The produce store that my mum gets the feed from said to start giving them laying pellets. Even though I kept nagging her, by the time she got them, most of the crumbles we're gone so I couldn't incorporate the new feed slowly into their diet (although I tried).

Anyways, they barely eat it. I used to have to top up their food around 3 times a day and now it's only 1 and they don't even finish that. Also, I see in their poop that the feed is not digesting properly, coming out as full pellets. When they do produce 'normal' poops, they're orange. Should I switch back to crumbles or will they get used to the new feed? It's just that my mum bought a 90 kilo bag of the pellets (even though I told her not to buy in such quantities in case there are any problems with it).

Do your chicks have chick grit as well? They have to have grit in their diet to grind up their food for them in their crops. Otherwise the food will not digest properly.

I would either try wetting the pellets into a mash, or smashing the pellets a bit with a mortar and pestle before serving.

 

[chickens really]

I continue with Grower/ finisher feed and once laying I feed Oyster shell in a separate dish..

 

[Chickassan]

Can you get hold of a coffee grinder or food processor? If you can, grind up the pellets.
Mine don't like pellets either, so iv'e ground a few bags myself.

 

[babbychickens]

Xs

Do your chicks have chick grit as well? They have to have grit in their diet to grind up their food for them in their crops. Otherwise the food will not digest properly.

I would either try wetting the pellets into a mash, or smashing the pellets a bit with a mortar and pestle before serving.

My uncle gave me a container of tiny rocks and ground up oyster shells he uses for his chickens but only one of my chicks will eat it. I will get some proper chick grit

 

[rosemarythyme]

I will get some proper chick grit

Your chickens are well past needing chick grit. Pullet grit or small hen grit is the appropriate size.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

One is 4 and a half months old, the other two are 3 and a half months old. The produce store that my mum gets the feed from said to start giving them laying pellets. Even though I kept nagging her, by the time she got them, most of the crumbles we're gone so I couldn't incorporate the new feed slowly into their diet (although I tried).

Anyways, they barely eat it. I used to have to top up their food around 3 times a day and now it's only 1 and they don't even finish that. Also, I see in their poop that the feed is not digesting properly, coming out as full pellets. When they do produce 'normal' poops, they're orange. Should I switch back to crumbles or will they get used to the new feed? It's just that my mum bought a 90 kilo bag of the pellets (even though I told her not to buy in such quantities in case there are any problems with it).

Mine don’t like pellets either, so I always give them layer crumbles. I guess you could smash the pellets up a little bit until they are gone.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

I would add the poultry grit as suggested above, and try wetting a small amount of pellets to see if that increases their interest. Worst comes to worst I suppose you could switch back to the starter and give the pellets to your chickens.

Of course, I'm just assuming you have chickens based on your profile pictures.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I got my first Flock to accept pellets by mixing it in their favorite treat, Scratch Grains.
They devoured the pellets like it was candy. I also mixed it into the crumbles for a couple of weeks.
I mixed it in about 50/50, then just added pellets to the feeder. GC