I wish I had read this thread earlier. I recently switched over to scratch and peck feed. I made the change gradually from an organic pellet formula. Noticed that when I made the complete change my chickens weren't eating as much. Wasn't too concerned until last week when one developed an impacted crop. I didn't realize that this feed was designed to be fermented to maximize nutrient ingestion. They weren't eating enough, and I think I was starving my poor little girls. Since the complete switch I have had mostly misshapen eggs, and decreased production, but it also the darkest part of winter, and that has an impact too. I am going to try to figure out how to ferment, to improve their nutrition, and see if they improve.
Has anyone else seen impacted crop more frequently with feeding whole grain feed? Less easily digested? Seems like this is much more natural for them and should be healthier. Maybe the impaction timing was all coincidence. But I only have two chickens, so one of them doing poorly after a change to a high quality feed makes me scared and frustrated.
Thanks in advance for your input. This forum is such an amazing resource!
Has anyone else seen impacted crop more frequently with feeding whole grain feed? Less easily digested? Seems like this is much more natural for them and should be healthier. Maybe the impaction timing was all coincidence. But I only have two chickens, so one of them doing poorly after a change to a high quality feed makes me scared and frustrated.
Thanks in advance for your input. This forum is such an amazing resource!