Uneaten fine particles in pellet food

[needmyzzz]

I switched my 16 week old chickens to what I think is pellets. The bag just says layer feed. They love the larger pieces but they leave all the finer pieces. I read that I shouldn't keep just adding more food on top because the finer pieces will get stale and eventually moldy. I probably have 3 cups of the fine particles. How do I get them to eat those finer pieces because it seems like such a waste to dump it? I have tried just not refilling but I dont want to wait too long with them not eating.

 

[Kiki]

Tomorrow morning before you feed them more pellets...Mix one cup of the dust in with some water...oatmeal-like consistency...they will think it's a treat and gobble it up.

 

[DobieLover]

I probably have 3 cups of the fine particles. How do I get them to eat those finer pieces because it seems like such a waste to dump it?

I scoop it out and add it to my fermented mix to thicken it up.
You can also just add water to it and feed it to them in a bowl.

 

[3KillerBs]

Tomorrow morning before you feed them more pellets...Mix one cup of the dust in with some water...oatmeal-like consistency...they will think it's a treat and gobble it up.

This is what I do with my fines.

The chickens think that wet food is the best!

 

[jreardon1918]

You could delay adding pellets until they eat the fine particles.

 

[Sally PB]

As others have mentioned, save the fine bits and make a mash out of them. That is my chickens favorite treat. Very little feed gets wasted, and I'm not shorting them on any nutrition, since their "treat" is their regular feed.

I make it warm in the winter, cold in the summer.

 

[Brooks_]

Short version: just add water.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I make mash with the dust too. Everytime I open a new bag, I empty the dust from the bottom of the feeder into a dog bowl and add water. It's their favorite treat!

 

[FunClucks]

I thought you had to add yogurt. How does that compare to water? Thoughts?

I know yogurt's more expensive, and I'd love to just use water. Although are there any benefits to mixing the food with plain yogurt?

 

[Coops Dad]

I keep a 2-qt stainless steel dog bowl in the run and just pour the fines into it, add some water, stir it with a stick and put the bowl down. I usually have a RIR or two jumping into the rim of the bowl before I can get it in the ground- they're pretty bold birds. They leave nothing but peck marks.