Switching to Pellets...

[AccentOnHakes]

How do I know if they can handle pellets or not?

I have two EE pullets, 23 weeks old. One has been laying since 19 weeks, I don't THINK the other one is laying yet. We get about 3 light green eggs every 4 days, and have never gotten more than one egg in one day. On top of that, my mom and I have each caught a girl in the nesting box once. Both times, it was the same one.

Now, their bag of feed is running low(they were on starter, then gamebird, now back to starter for one bag because it was given to us) and I want to switch to layer pellets. I have seen BOTH birds eat the oyster shell we put out for them once we found eggs. So I really don't think the extra calcium will affect them that much.

So my question is, can they or can they not handle pellets? I've found un-broken pellets in the crumbles before, and tried to feed them to see. Most of the time, they don't eat it; I have to break it up. The only time I didn't have to break it up was when a pullet picked it up and it fell apart.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If they're old enough to lay they are certainly old enough to eat pelleted feed.

But chickens do not like change so they may well turn their noses up at the new form of feed. Just keep it in front of them and don't yield. They'll eat them.

 

[galanie]

Yes, they can handle them fine they just don't want to. Sounds harsh, but if they are hungry they will eat it. When they are used to crumbles sometimes it takes them a couple days to start accepting the pellets. Just don't give them treats or scratch till they start eating it. Otherwise, you'll have to always give them crumbles. Layer does come in crumbles though your local feed store might not have them. Sounds like all the layer food they have is in pellets because of the way you worded the question. Just don't give them anything for a few days but the pellets, they'll eat them.

 

[ednasgirl]

I fed my chicks just starter until they moved into their chicken pen/yard and started putting growth crumbles and scratch grain on the side. Now they started laying I put laying pellets out. They are not eating the pellets, or very few. They love left over bread and get excited when I toss out small bites of bread. My chicks are very healthy and fat
I'm thinking they have made up their minds to leave the pellets be, but I keep offering them.
I am giving them growth crumbles and grain daily.

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Thanks. I have read through many posts and know that they will try to fake starving to get me to buy them crumbles. I am a bit worried that they will make hungry noises, though. I am supposed to have a permit(shh!) and I live in a small neighborhood whose HOA would likely not let me keep them.

My feed store has layer in crumble, pellets, and mash.

I have also heard to make a mash with pellets by adding water. I also do that with crumbles. Supposedly it teaches them that pellets are the same thing in the end...how well does this work?

 

[pawsplus]

My 2 pullets are 10-11 weeks old--they will be going in w/ the 2 adult hens in a few days, so they're gonna have to eat layer pellets. I offered them to them the other day and they went NUTS!! Seemed MUCH more interested in the pellets than in their starter/grower crumbles. Didn't have any problem at all!

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Well, looks like I don't have to worry much anymore. Jalapeño laid her first egg today! I found a couple of the biggest pieces of the crumble(only about 1/8 in long) and they ate them with no problem.

 

[so lucky]

What is the advantage to feeding pellets?

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

I found my birds using crumbles as a substrate. LOL. When I switched to pellets, there was less food wasted.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
Same question here.