Switching to mash?

[billmac]

I've been feeding my Welsh Harlequins chicken layer pellets, which they love. But I have one hen who is a little deformed. Somewhat twisted up. She seems to have a hard time swallowing pellets and seems to drop a lot of them. I sometimes give her some pellets soaked in a little water but that is a pain, especially when it is getting colder. So I'm wondering about switching to layer mash. Any thoughts?

 

[katharinad]

You could try crumbles. Also give her extra niacin, perhaps she will get better. Wont hurt to try.

 

[billmac]

I don't think my feed store carries crumbles.

I gave her some vitamin enriched feed for months, but it didn't help (well, let's say it didn't cure her).

 

[katharinad]

Vitamins are not the almighty cure. It's just that ducks need to much of it, that most of the time it does work. I had some ducklings hatch that had curled up feet etc and I all I had to give was vitamin water with extra niacin. 3 days later you could not tell the difference. You did all you can do. You may throw some pellets into a blender and break them down for her. A heavy plastic bag and a hammer does the same tick. Funny enough I cannot get pallets here, all they have is crumbles. I wish they had pellets to cut down on the mess they make.