Avid-Myrtle Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 At the moment I use layers pellets buy the girls don't seem to each much of it, we keep them in their run til 11am and then they free rage till dark. They are all laying now but would only have to fill the grub up every 4 days and then it is still over half full (i do it every day cause I don't like to think of them having stale food ) We also give then treat everyday of 2-3 handfulls of corn and a banana or some grapes between the 3 of them. So I am thinking of trying them on Mash instead AND finally my question is... do you wet the mash down? or do you leave it just flakes? Should I worry as they are all looking well and the eggs are all great and getting bigger? BTW if I give them porridge made of pellets they do eat that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 They can have it dry or wet I believe. They make more of a mess with it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I give my hens a choice of both - they eat all the mash in a day but the grubs full of pellets last about 3/4 days. So they do still eat the pellets but prefer mash. They chuck the mash about a bit so don't put it anywhere it'll get wet as it goes smelly. You can make porridge from mash or pellets, it all 'mushes' down the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 and then they free rage till dark. Sorry, but I just had an image of your chickens stomping angrily round the garden all day . Mine get pellets and get through a lot, more so since they started laying. I fill up the grub daily (although I don't throw out the leftovers ). I'd say they eat half a grub-full daily, between 2 layers and 1 non. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I give my girls pellets all the time but every morning I give them wet layers mash. I got the recipe from the perfect pekins website. It is : 6 ladles of layers mash (I have 11 chickens who eat it) 1 tablespoon poultry spice 1 tablespoon limestone flour (for nice tough shells) 1 teaspoon marmite dissolved in hot water (Vitamin B12) 2 tablespoons cod liver oil (Vitamin A) A splash of milk Some warm water They love this in the mornings. I am now trying the ex-batts on this. I also give them dry layers mash but thought that I would try them on a bowl a day...thought that it might help their feathers. They clear the bowl completely within half an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 My old girls were on pellets, but when I got my new hens they were on mash,so I gave them all mash. I must say that since I schanged to mash my hens are eating more,laying more & generally seem happier. They spend more time eating & less squabbling - so I am keeping them on mash now. I serve it dry,with a dash of spice & garlic powder. I have found Marriages layers mash to be the most popular with my hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 My girls got swapped onto mash too after not liking the pellets much. They did make a mess though when it was in the grub as they loved to throw it around the place. I've now switched to a metal trough and it it's not nearly as messy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 My hens are on Marriage's mash - they started off on Growers but now they are all laying I have bought Layer's mash and am mixing in the remaining Grower's to use it up. My hens don't seem to eat vast amounts - a fullish grub would probably last 4 days without me refilling it. They get a bowl of leftovers and a handful of corn in the afternoon plus they free range for an hour. I tend to top up the Grub every day with mash, garlic powder and limestone flour then empty and wash it once a week. You musn't get mash wet as it goes sour but I guess if you're feeding it wet as porridge then it will be eaten pretty quickly. I find the mash keeps them busy for long periods and I don't find it to be messy, unless I fill the Grub right to the top and then they can't seem to resist throwing loads of it onto the floor! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 We have the same problem. Ours don't free-range because our garden is too big and not secure enough. But they manage to hold out all day and not eat any pellets The same food has been sat in the grub for 3 days now I know none of you have eaten it, but do you think the mash tastes any different? And what does it look like? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I know none of you have eaten it, but do you think the mash tastes any different? And what does it look like? xx I think the mash is more interesting for them as they can pick out the bits they really like first, it looks like dry powder - (very uninteresting to us humans) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I have found Marriages layers mash to be the most popular with my hens I agree with you Sarah. I bought some Smallholder layers mash and it is like powder. The Marriages' stuff is grainier and they prefer it. Have finally found a stockist who is local! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I know none of you have eaten it, but do you think the mash tastes any different? And what does it look like? xx As far as I am aware Chicken04x, the mash is made first then moulded into pellets. So in theory it should taste the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 After hearing so many peoples chickens prefer mash I'm thinking of switching as well once the 10Kg of pellets I've just bought are eaten (could take a while). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Have to say that I never fill the grub up, my three get a feed scoop a day as that seemed to be about what they eat (I reckon that is a third of the grub). I suppose having them in the glu since 6 weeks on growers I was used to them starting out eating very little in quantity so didn't want it to spoil. They don't get any alternatives though-when I got the organic layers with my cube they went on strike and barely ate anything for 3 days, initially I mixed it with 'normal' and they picked out the old stuff only. Day two they started to succumb and day three they emptied the grub and have been fine ever since. INterestingly started a new sack of non-organic layers today and they went absoloutely barmy for it - so there must be a big difference in taste/appeal between brands. I find it funny they can be so fussy when you see what they will eat when free ranging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy the Whippet Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Flo and Aggy didn't seem too keen on pellets either but a colleague advised not to feed mash as it sticks to their beaks etc and is more likely to give them beak problems and is much messier. Anyway before I made the decision they both took to the pellets and eat quite a bit everyday now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
