Strange behavior with Non-GMO Feed

[Mother of Chaos]

Greetings. I've wanted to put our hens on non-GMO feed for a while, and a local feed store started carrying the Kalmbach 17% non-gmo layer pellets. It's affordable, and I was impressed with the quality as it looked and smelled fresher and better than my previous feed (Nutrena 22% pellets).

I planned to help offset the protein drop off with extra mealworms and boiled eggs, and have been doing that. But here's the thing.

The chickens really don't like the new feed. It's been about a month, and they eat less than I've ever seen. Probably about 20-30% less consumption. I can't figure out if they just don't like it, or if something more serious is going on. Here are my flock details:

- 14 heritage layers (Australops, Barred Rock, Sussex, and Delawares) confined in a large coop & run (total 12x32).
- They are 2.5 years old.
- Started molting about a week after I switched feed.
- I'm in south MS, so the weather is great right now.
- I should add that these girls have always eaten like pigs. Never seen them leave so much of their daily ration at the end of the day.

ETA: I picked up one of the Sussex hens and hand fed her some of the Kalmbach feed this morning, just to see what she'd do. She pecked a single pellet, but the seemed to really stretch out her neck to swallow it. Then wouldn't eat any more. I'm wondering if this batch is too hard for them? Maybe I could try fermenting some?

Thanks for any ideas.

I’d go with lightly moistening it, maybe. You don’t need to go as far as fermenting, since it’s already processed.

Too much water might make it turn into glop.

 

[Vadard]

Thank you all for your responses. I did moisten the feed some, and they ate it at about the same rate. The hens still look fine. I think the Kalmbach feed might just be more nutritious.

 

[Doggiekisses]

Greetings. I've wanted to put our hens on non-GMO feed for a while, and a local feed store started carrying the Kalmbach 17% non-gmo layer pellets. It's affordable, and I was impressed with the quality as it looked and smelled fresher and better than my previous feed (Nutrena 22% pellets).

I planned to help offset the protein drop off with extra mealworms and boiled eggs, and have been doing that. But here's the thing.

The chickens really don't like the new feed. It's been about a month, and they eat less than I've ever seen. Probably about 20-30% less consumption. I can't figure out if they just don't like it, or if something more serious is going on. Here are my flock details:

- 14 heritage layers (Australops, Barred Rock, Sussex, and Delawares) confined in a large coop & run (total 12x32).
- They are 2.5 years old.
- Started molting about a week after I switched feed.
- I'm in south MS, so the weather is great right now.
- I should add that these girls have always eaten like pigs. Never seen them leave so much of their daily ration at the end of the day.

ETA: I picked up one of the Sussex hens and hand fed her some of the Kalmbach feed this morning, just to see what she'd do. She pecked a single pellet, but the seemed to really stretch out her neck to swallow it. Then wouldn't eat any more. I'm wondering if this batch is too hard for them? Maybe I could try fermenting some?

Thanks for any ideas.

Stop all store bought feed period. Mine are laying more and bigger eggs since I stopped giving them store bought feed and treats

 

[Doggiekisses]

I took my girls off any store bought feed and treats for a month now and they lay more and bigger eggs. I really couldn't believe it but it's been a month and they are healthy, happy and laying machines.

 

[GreatGrandPa]

Greetings. I've wanted to put our hens on non-GMO feed for a while, and a local feed store started carrying the Kalmbach 17% non-gmo layer pellets. It's affordable, and I was impressed with the quality as it looked and smelled fresher and better than my previous feed (Nutrena 22% pellets).

I planned to help offset the protein drop off with extra mealworms and boiled eggs, and have been doing that. But here's the thing.

The chickens really don't like the new feed. It's been about a month, and they eat less than I've ever seen. Probably about 20-30% less consumption. I can't figure out if they just don't like it, or if something more serious is going on. Here are my flock details:

- 14 heritage layers (Australops, Barred Rock, Sussex, and Delawares) confined in a large coop & run (total 12x32).
- They are 2.5 years old.
- Started molting about a week after I switched feed.
- I'm in south MS, so the weather is great right now.
- I should add that these girls have always eaten like pigs. Never seen them leave so much of their daily ration at the end of the day.

ETA: I picked up one of the Sussex hens and hand fed her some of the Kalmbach feed this morning, just to see what she'd do. She pecked a single pellet, but the seemed to really stretch out her neck to swallow it. Then wouldn't eat any more. I'm wondering if this batch is too hard for them? Maybe I could try fermenting some?

Thanks for any ideas.

We only have 4 RIR hens, 3 older, 1 younger. Very picky about laying feed, won't touch pellets either feed. So, better half came up with a recipe using tomatoes, carrots, celery, processed in food processor to small pieces, herbs; sage, red chili flakes, parsley, oregano, sometimes a little garlic powder or minced, gently mixed with the pellets. Our hens will start dancing to get it! I feed it to them around a cup, cup an half morning and evening before roost time. They eat it down to the grains. Laying 3 to 4 eggs per day!

 

[Molpet]

I took my girls off any store bought feed and treats for a month now and they lay more and bigger eggs. I really couldn't believe it but it's been a month and they are healthy, happy and laying machines.

How many birds? What kind of weather?
My 2 dz turkeys and 40+ chickens are going through 25lbs of 20% a day. But the ground has been covered in snow since just after Thanksgiving

 

[FrostRanger]

Stop all store bought feed period. Mine are laying more and bigger eggs since I stopped giving them store bought feed and treats

What likely happened is they went off lay due to molt, finished and are now back to laying. Feed change was coincidental

 

[Vadard]

Stop all store bought feed period. Mine are laying more and bigger eggs since I stopped giving them store bought feed and treats

What mix do you feed them?