iChicken Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 For the last week our chickens have been free ranging all day. My girlfriend has suggested removing the feeder from the run and scattering the pellets around the floor of their favorite areas in the garden. Forgetting the vermin issue is this a good idea? We raised the Glug and placed an upturned flower pot they would need to stand on but they just stretched their necks to drink so we have raised the Glug even further. It rained last night so they have been drinking from the edges of the flowerpot. Fingers crossed it will dry up and we'll get a chicken up on the pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 the pellets might get a bit wet which might make them sour. Do they seem to be eating them? If so, and like you say "forgetting the vermin issue" (which I couldn't ) then yes, it will keep them busy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted January 1, 2008 Author Share Posted January 1, 2008 They pop back into the run throughout the day to eat their pellets, my GF wants to scatter the pellets so they can stay out and live like free range chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 You could always try feeding them layers mash. When i got my 3 new girls, the breeder had raised them on mash not pellets and so I bought a large sack home with me. The old girls love it and spend literally hours feeding, compared to a few minutes each day. A word of warning though, it is messy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I will echo what Christian has said - my hens have never enjoyed their food so much as now that they are on layers mash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 ours have only ever had layers mash as they're ex batts, we're gradually moving them onto pellets but do you think they enjoy mash more than pellets then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 When mine freerange, they pop back occasionally for pellets but seem to enjoy scratching about and eating whatever they find. If it's in the afternoon, I chuck a good handful of corn round the garden and they love pecking it up. (You shouldn't give them corn too early in the day or they won't eat a sufficient amount of pellets.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 do you think they enjoy mash more than pellets then? It takes them longer to fill up so keeps them occupied. It is messier but seeing as they are happier with it, i will keep using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I've only ever fed my girls mash, I didn't even realise that you could get pellets when I first got chickens. They seem to love it. Even when out free ranging all day they regularly pop back for mash. It is messy though, but if they like it then I'm happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I may be being a bit dim, but in relation to the layers mash - why does that keep them more occupied, and what is the difference (apart from the obvious shape!!)??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 They have to eat more mash to fill up as it is smaller than pellets. This keeps them occupied for longer. The texture is like small chunks of ground wheat/corn etc. The mash is produced first, then moulded into pellets. It takes more 'beakfuls' to fill them up. The breeder I got them from said that a chicken can fill up on pellets in about 20 mins, whereas the same amount of mash would take them a couple of hours. I love how my girls seem to spend more time feeding, but the mess is driving me mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 We keep a tray underneath the grub to catch all the stuff they chuck on he floor. They then scratch through that too. All the mess is contained then and that can just be emptied in the bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
