Switching to Pelleted Feed

[minou33]

I just switched my girls from Scratch and Peck grower feed to pelleted layer feed. I had read that pelleted feed is better for them because it avoids them only picking out the seeds they like from the feed. They won't touch the new feed. I know they had a hard time switching from chick crumbles to grower feed when they were babies. Do they just need time to adjust to the new feed or should I change it up to something else?

 

[BeanBoy]

If you still have some of the other feed you were feeding them, you can mix it with the new pellets then slowly stop mixing in the other feed. Or you can just give the new feed and they’ll start eating it when they get hungry enough. Another idea is to mix some treats or mealworms in with their new feed

 

[GC-Raptor]

They won't touch the new feed.

I just switched my girls from Scratch and Peck grower feed

If you still have some of the Grower feed, mix with the Pellets and toss on dry ground as a treat.
If you have Scratch Grains that would work too.
That's how I switched my first Flock to Pellets, but they were eating a Crumble feed at the time.
I feed my hens a Crumble feed now instead of Pellets.

As a last resort you could turn the Pellets into Crumbles in your blender, using (pulse), one cup at a time or a larger amount in your food processor.
You might try wetting the Pellets. I make a wet mash with the Crumbles as a treat daily. . GC