Sarah B Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hi All, I'm sure my hens are not eating enough pellets. I've noticed over the past 4/5 days that the only time pellets seem to be eaten are first thing as soon as they come out of the Eglu. This lasts about 5/10 mins and that seems to be it? I know I don't see what they eat in the day Mon to Fri but when I get in, the pellet level has hardly moved - if at all? They just seem to peck the ground instead. They are not laying yet so I know they eat more when they are in lay but I am a bit worried? They didn't want pellet porridge today either and it was a first time treat. I also don't think their crops are very full before bed. I was wondering if I may have made the pellets a bit too garlicky as they seem to have gone off them since I did a garlic mix at the weekend? I got half a large bucket of pellets and put 2 heaped teaspoons in? What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 That could be the problem if it is a recent thing. Are they free ranging? Laying hens are reckoned to eat around 100g of pellets per day. Maybe you could add the present mix of pellets to another un garlicky bucket full of same and give it a good mix to "dilute" the taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 That could be the problem if it is a recent thing. Are they free ranging? Laying hens are reckoned to eat around 100g of pellets per day. Maybe you could add the present mix of pellets to another un garlicky bucket full of same and give it a good mix to "dilute" the taste. Hi Egluntine, Because the weather has been pants at the weekends they have only free ranged about 4 hours total! Poor hens. I've already added the garlic bucket to the rest of the unspoilt bag which has a lot of pellets in and given it a good old mix but I did this on Sunday and they are still off it? There is obviously something in there they dont fancy - I just put in the horse garlic powder, grit and some poultry spice. I think I will get rid of the pellets in the feeder tonight clean it out and take pellets right from the bottom of the bag for tomorrow and see what happens? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 i got some garlic and mine stopped eating so i changed bk to just pellets and fine now, so i think garlic wasnt wanted here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 I think I have the same problem Debbie so now I guess its back to more whiffy poos! I have put pellets from the bottom of the bag in for tomorrow so hopefully they will give that a go and it's still got a little garlic in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 i got apple cider vinger with garlic in that and works, also i was told when i dont add that add a clove garlic chopped up into the water we have ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 Well if they don't eat the pellets again tomorrow I wil give the garlic clove a try! I thought it was only the garlic horsey powder that did the trick. I'm so new and dim about chickens Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Mine refused to eat the pellets when I added garlic powder to them. They were fine with the pellets once I refilled the grub and left out the garlic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_W Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I'm sure my hens are not eating enough pellets. My three hardly eat any. I put out maybe a kg a week, and most of it gets binned the following week. I've stopped worrying. They have great eggs, and are all healthy. The only thing I do is worm them and give them some corn now and again. If they were hungry they would eat them, so they must be finding enough stuff around the garden. FYI: My hens free range all day, so if yours don't then discard the above Regards, Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I'm sure my hens are not eating enough pellets. My three hardly eat any. I put out maybe a kg a week, and most of it gets binned the following week. I've stopped worrying. They have great eggs, and are all healthy. The only thing I do is worm them and give them some corn now and again. If they were hungry they would eat them, so they must be finding enough stuff around the garden. FYI: My hens free range all day, so if yours don't then discard the above Regards, Nick. mine got liks this in last couple days but we getting eggs so wasnt sure im watchin ghtem closely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I would leave out the garlic altogether. I have never given mine garlic and their poo hardly ever smells unpleasant. I think it's easy to get carried away with all the various supplements. I'm not saying they don't help, but they are far from essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 i didnt add garlic to last lot, but they seem not to each as much, but now i have emptied th eold put all fresh in adn all the bits poultry spice, bran and the lime stuff and they going mad now im thinking they are likint he pultry as i didnt put in my last lot of feeding fussy things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Another one here whose chickens don't like garlic powder! Not that I really mind the smell of chicken poo - far less than cat litter! (Well, apart from the infamous "chip shop curry" variety!) I think I might try popping some whole garlic in their water instead - we eat a lot of garlic ourselves, but often end up with a lot of fiddly little cloves from the centre of the bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 Yes I think the garlic powder is going off the menu. I'm going to put the garlic clove in the water and see what happens. Do you chop it or just bung it in whole and peeled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 How about putting a clove in when boiling up their pasta, would that work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...