I added water to their pellet and Henhouse Reserve feed mix, the pellets became mash and they actually ate most of it, so I just wish I had done that before ordering different brands of crumble feed to try out. If anything, I will mix the Henhouse feed with their crumble feed and give it to them like that.
They would eat a few grains and leave the pellets because they are too hard and that's the part that has all the nutritional benefits, SMH. I am just glad they ate it wet. They started to lay less eggs, in the last 7 days, they went from 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, and 3 today. Hopefully now that they are eating their feed, they will start to lay more eggs. It doesn't help that 3 went broody and only 5 were laying eggs.
That sounds like typical laying schedule for 5 layers (4-5 eggs/week per layer) at peak.
Try fermenting... soak the grains (feed can go in later) for a few days with a screen over them. I use three separate pots with splatter screens (meant for stopping grease splatters on the stove). I start a pot one day, the next day I start a new pot, third day I start another one. Fourth day I feed the first one to the girls and start another pot. Just keep rotating. You can add your feed to this when you feed them. It may take a couple of days for them to get used to it, but when they do, they will gobble it down. It is healthier for them too!
Thank you! We took away the free access to fruits and they seem to be eating their feed just fine now. They do prefer sprouted grains over dry, so I will try fermenting their food and see if they like it.
I feed ALL my chickens (chicks, hens, and roosters) Chick Starter. I noticed the girls laying during winter will keep better body condition. I do add BSF dried larvae during winter for a little extra warmth and body supplement.
