Lone Ranger Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi, I've just popped out to check on the girls and noticed there is a lot of pellets on the floor near the feeder. Is this normal - ie do they need some table manners - or could it be that they are 'rejecting' the pellets ? I have just given them a treat of mixed corn and they gulped it down in record time - so was concerned that they might not be eating the pellets ( some which had a small amount of garlic powder and chicken spice added). Has anyone else had a problem like this ? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I add garlic powder and poultry spice (and bokashi bran) to my pellets but I can't say my girls chuck it about at all . There's never any lying under the grub . Sorry that doesn't help much . (Your grub is hanging correctly is it? If it was loose some might spill?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 My lot are very messy eaters and throw their pellets about. I have tried different feeders - Eglu peanuts, grubs, dog bowls and traditional type feed hoppers. I take away the feeders late afternoon and if they are hungry they have to eat the pellets off the floor, when they have cleared up their mess I put the feeders back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Ranger Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Thanks Alison - loks like I may have to take the feeder out as well. Trouble is that some days I won't be here during the day so will have to leave them in. Lets hope its just a 'phase' they're going through. I've really noticed how much more settled they are after less than a week, and they are starting to take a keen interest in other things going on in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Molly one of my chickens likes to move the pellets out of the grub feeder onto the ground, and then eats them from the ground instead! I notice she only does this when I've filled it to the top. The other two eat "properly" from the grub!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursechick Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Ours are very messy eaters as well.For every one pellet eaten five are flicked around the run.I think at first I filled the grub up too much so I've taken to putting less in and they have to put their heads right in and the flicked ones stay inside!.Also I did mix some meal worms in a couple of times which was a really daft thing to do cos they just knocked out the pellets to get to the tastier treats;you learn as you go on. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Mine go through phases (just like children). Sometimes they purposely flick the pellets on the floor and other times they gobble them up hungrily with exceptional table manners....... Corn on the other hand is hoovered up at an exceptional rate....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJuliet Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I bought a bag of a different sort of pellets (the first bag was the Omlet ones). The new pellets are sligthly larger. I've been mixing the old and new until the old is finished but the henchen seem to throw the old ones out and only eat the new. Mind you, if any get left on the floor they do usuaaly get hoovered up fairly soon. PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAZ Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Mine also have very recentlty become very very messy. The pellets this afternoon covered 2/3 of the run and a once full feeder was nearly empty. I think i will also try and remove the feeder in the afternoon and see what happens. Thats if i remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Mine are also messy eaters and pick through the pellets looking for the bokashi and mash. They do seem to eat up the fallen pellets eventually though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Mine aren't too messy...in fact they eat the ones they have spilled on the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Ranger Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 I think I may have made the mistake of putting a few bits of corn in with their pellets - so they must be trying to get the pellets out of the way to get to any bits of corn Will make sure I keep to a separate treat bowl and see if they still make a mess next time I fill the grub. Thanks to all for your comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...