Which organic feed to use for picky layers?

[teresahfallin]

Hi!
My 3.5 year-old hens have become picky eaters.
I’ve tried various organic feed pellets,etc.
I’m wanting to purchase a good quality, organic brand.
Which brands are you guys feeding your flocks?
Thank you so much!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Which brands have you tried? I feed my flock Scratch & Peck grower, fermented, and Payback layer pellets, dry (might be sold only in Pac NW). I've also tried Modesto Milling grower pellets but my birds didn't like those.

 

[BlackDog26]

I use Scratch and Peck organic layer

 

[3KillerBs]

I never catered to picky kids and I won't cater to picky chickens.

Buy what you think is the healthiest diet for them at the price point you can afford, put it into their feeder, stop or limit treats, and the chickens will not starve themselves.

They will, however, pick only the stuff they like out of a mixed assortment and that can lead to health problems so a homogeneous pellet or crumble is better.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I don't feed organic , but if I did I would buy Nature's Best.
It's available at TSC and sells quickly around here, so it's fresh.
The Layers feed is available in crumble and pellets.
Try the crumbles if your chickens are picky. GC

 

[MissE]

Mine will eat anything that's within reach, even if they shouldn't. A day or two with no other options should cure a picky eater. They won't let themselves starve, unless the feed is spoiled. Even then, mine would probably eat it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with @3KillerBs, chickens will not starve themselves. In fact, they are voracious eaters. If they are picky, that is usually due to having been given treats and scratch. Then rather than eating their feed, they hold out for those other feedstuffs.
Provided your feed is fresh (1 month or less from mill date), eliminate everything else except their feed and in short order they'll readily eat it when they realize that is all they are getting.
Our options for organic feed isn't great around here and because it is pricey, it doesn't get purchased regularly so it ends up being old.
We have two lines of Nutrena, ADM, Purina and Dumor brands. The most nutritious feed available around here is Purina. I've bought Nutrena Hearty Hen but the Purina has double the vitamin A as the Nutrena.
I pay attention to the mill date and the numbers on the guaranteed analysis tag.

 

[teresahfallin]

Thank you guys so much!! I have a very small flock of divas. I’ve tried Dumor, Purina and a highly rated and very pricey brand from Amazon, but they scoffed at these! I think that the real problem is the treats (chicken-friendly) I’m giving after reading your responses. I’m such a sucker, hahaa!
I spent $700.00 at a local vet on one of my lovely hens with an extended case of sour crop, only to lose her from this condition.
I will certainly try Nutrena and ADM; thank you guys so much for the information!