Went to the next step in chicken feed and my chickens won't touch it?

[ginaknotek]

I have 3 chickens that are 14 weeks today (July 31st). Up until yesterday they were on Dumor Chick/Starter Grower. When I went to the local feed store a couple of days ago, they suggested I switch to the next step up Dumor Poultry Grower/Finisher feed. I started them on this new feed this morning and they haven't touched it. Before I switched I couldn't keep feed in their feeder. They were eating it like crazy. I realize their is a lot of waste, but I could fill up their feeder first thing in the morning and before lunch it was empty. At the same time I was giving them watermelon rinds, mashed up banana, grapes, etc. and yet they were still eating as much feed as I would give them. I was just surprised that they didn't touch the grower/finisher. Is there that much difference in the two feeds?

This is my first time raising chickens so I am learning as I go and from the wealth of information posted here on BackYard Chickens.

Thanks.

 

[bekahubbell]

Did you mix in some of the starter food with the new stuff? Sometimes you have to integrate it in their normal food for them to develop a taste for it. Good luck

 

[ginaknotek]

No, unfortunately I didn't think of doing that, I was completely out of the starter/grower. Do you think I should get another bag so I can mix it together? I never buy the 50 lb bag of feed, always the 20 and thought this time I would get the 50 lb to save time and money. Wouldn't you know? Anyway if I do get some of the prior feed to mix with it, how long do you think I need to mix the two together?

Thank you for your response.

 

[jennfurtrombly]

I didn't mix mine. Maybe I should have but I was new when I switched. It took my chickens a day to decide to try the new food. I would leave the new food available to them and maybe cut down the treats for a day. They will get hungry and eat.

 

[ginaknotek]

That's a good point. I will give them another day and see what happens and won't give them the treats. Hopefully they will start eating the new food, I just didn't realize that it would be that different from what they had before.

Thank you for your input.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you find that after they get good and hungry they still won't eat the new feed, there may be something wrong with it. My girls had a bag of feed last winter that they ABSOLUTELY refused to eat. They were starving. It smelled and looked fine to me. I took the bag back and bought a bag of multi-flock to give them extra protein, and they immediately started eating the new feed.