Switching food

[RocketDog1]

About a month ago I switched from a locally produced layer mash (Hunt & Behrens) to Purina Layena for my small flock of hens. I’ve noticed that they don’t eat as much. It takes probably 3 times longer before I need to refill their feeders.
Should I be concerned? They seem healthy and are still laying. Perhaps I should mix the mash and the Layena for a while??? Just not sure.

 

[Notaneggspurt]

I noticed a difference in fed consumption and waste when I switched from large commercial brand to local milled.

They were picking through the local milled faster. Looking at the differences all I could see was visible chunks of corn. Hand feeding them I watched as they would toss evenly milled pellets and eat the pieces with visible corn.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens will waste a lot of mash, waste a bit of crumble and waste less pellets. So it could be the consistency change. What's the protein and fat comparison between the two? Birds will eat less feed that's higher in protein or fats.

As long as they are eating, and feed is always available I wouldn't worry.

 

[rjohns39]

Chickens will waste a lot of mash, waste a bit of crumble and waste less pellets. So it could be the consistency change. What's the protein and fat comparison between the two? Birds will eat less feed that's higher in protein or fats.

As long as they are eating, and feed is always available I wouldn't worry.

X2 When I can get good whole grain (with animal protein) feed, I'll feed them twice a day at a calculated rate to encourage them to eat everything provided. I tend to do the same with their pellets, but do notice more feed on the ground with the pellet feed. I'm not sure what they'd do with a continuous supply of feed.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

About a month ago I switched from a locally produced layer mash (Hunt & Behrens) to Purina Layena for my small flock of hens. I’ve noticed that they don’t eat as much. It takes probably 3 times longer before I need to refill their feeders.
Should I be concerned? They seem healthy and are still laying. Perhaps I should mix the mash and the Layena for a while??? Just not sure.

If only my little pigs ate much less...........

 

[Notaneggspurt]

About a month ago I switched from a locally produced layer mash (Hunt & Behrens) to Purina Layena for my small flock of hens. I’ve noticed that they don’t eat as much. It takes probably 3 times longer before I need to refill their feeders.
Should I be concerned? They seem healthy and are still laying. Perhaps I should mix the mash and the Layena for a while??? Just not sure.

Short answer, if no changes in their poop, laying or behavior no need to worry. Hang on to the tags for a couple of bags in case something does change.

 

[aart]

About a month ago I switched from a locally produced layer mash (Hunt & Behrens) to Purina Layena for my small flock of hens. I’ve noticed that they don’t eat as much. It takes probably 3 times longer before I need to refill their feeders.
Should I be concerned? They seem healthy and are still laying. Perhaps I should mix the mash and the Layena for a while??? Just not sure.

Is the Layena a pellet or crumble?
What are the differences in protein percentages in the 2 feeds?

 

[RocketDog1]

Is the Layena a pellet or crumble?
What are the differences in protein percentages in the 2 feeds?

Is the Layena a pellet or crumble?
What are the differences in protein

Is the Layena a pellet or crumble?
What are the differences in protein percentages in the 2 feeds?

It’s the crumbles. I no longer have a bag of the mash I was using so I can’t compare protein or other nutritional information.
Some of the replies I’ve gotten mentioned “waste”. I hadn’t thought of that but my birds did create a lot of waste with the mash I was giving them. Perhaps their actual consumption isn’t much different. Maybe they just aren’t picking through the Layena like they did with the layer mash.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I'm not sure what they'd do with a continuous supply of feed.

tried the PVC feeder, and they would make a huge mess, I put a tray under the feeder and started catching the food, and ended up with most of it in the tray....so now I dump two cups into the tray and they scratch and eat out of there, lol

 

[Notaneggspurt]

To get an idea of you're going through more or less feed figure about 1/4 lbs per chicken per day. So if you make a note on how fast you go through your bag a little math (I am horrible at math so please someone correct me) pounds of feed ÷ number of days will equal average what you use a day. Take that and divide it by the number of chickens.

ETA: 50 lbs feed ÷ 30 days = 1.7 lbs per day. 1.7 ÷ 10 chickens = .17 lbs per chicken. I free range my chickens most of the time.