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[jills]

Hi,

 

Have had my two Omlet chickens for 4 weeks now. One is laying almost every day, the other hasn't started yet. I'm quite concerned about them because they have hardly touched their layers pellets. I have ony filled the grub twice and both times had to throw away loads of left over pellets. Have searched this site for ideas but they won't touch greens, sweetcorn, raisins, grapes...The only food they seem to like is brown bread and it can't be good for them to have too much so I only give them a little if I need to entice them into their run for some reason. Most days they are out in the garden free ranging so presumably they are picking up bits and pieces. When they see me they come racing over as if they are completely starving! Is there something I can give them instead of the layers pellets which will ensure they get all the nutrients they need?

[LJ's Chooks]

Jills... don't panic, if they are not laying yet they will not have huge appetites, and may not want treats. Have you tried grapes and sweetcorn?

 

I'm sure someone who knows more will have additional advice, but often young girls dont eat huge amounts especially if they are free ranging.

 

I'm no expert, but that's my 2 cents worth

[WitchHazel]

Jills, what timwe do you let them out to free range in the morning?

 

If possible, could you keep the girls in for a while so they have to start by eating their pellets? Otherwise they just fill up on the tasty garden treats.

[The Dogmother]

LJ is right in that they don't eat much until they really start to lay, but you might want to try some different pellets in case they're just not keen on the ones you are using. Are you feeding them on the pellets that Omlet supply? Because that's what they would have had in the pens at the omlet mothership.

 

Best not to give them bread though - it can swell up in their crops and lead to sour crop. Try giving them a little corn or indigo wheat as a treat instead.

[TAJ]

Keep them in am is good advice - also have you tried putting a bit of warm water in the pellets to make a bowl of porridge? Mine love this as a 'treat' and I found it a good way of introducing new 'treats'.

 

Mine totally ignored greens or brocolli on the floor, or hanging up in their run - then we went away for a weekend and they ate it all in a day - that was a month after I thought they would never eat veg!

 

Are you putting anything else in the pellets? - some people have found garlic powder for an example can put them off the pellets.

 

Tracy

[jills]

Thanks for replies. I have tried grapes and sweetcorn and various greens - no chance! I usually let them out around 8.00am, but on days when I'm out they're in until about 4.00pm and still don't really touch the layers pellets. Thanks for advice about bread - I'll avoid it in future. Think I'll get some corn for treats and try mixing the pellets with warm water. One is laying so I suppose they must be alright. I think I read somewhere that you could feed them pasta, anyone know?

[The Dogmother]

Jills, if they're not eating their pellets, you'd be better to lay off any treats except to entice them into the run.

[..lay a little egg for me]

Thanks for replies. I have tried grapes and sweetcorn and various greens - no chance! I usually let them out around 8.00am, but on days when I'm out they're in until about 4.00pm and still don't really touch the layers pellets. Thanks for advice about bread - I'll avoid it in future. Think I'll get some corn for treats and try mixing the pellets with warm water. One is laying so I suppose they must be alright. I think I read somewhere that you could feed them pasta, anyone know?

 

Yes, yes, yes to the pasta...do try them on this...if it's spaghetti it is just the best hentertainment ever . They go mad for it, chasing each other round and round, running off crowing with delight and being chased by the others. Hilarious. In fact, I always cook extra spaghetti just for the chooks (trouble is, my DS's appetite is so huge, he often has the extra and not the chooks ).

[MadMitch]

Although mine are only 6 & 8 weeks old mine will not eat the pellets either. At first I thought they were just not hungry, then I ground some up to a crumb and they scofed the lot. I have also made a porridge today and they ate that so I think they just don't like the pellets.

You can buy Layers Mash which is the same pellet mixture but in a crumb format, this is what I will be using once mine are old enough.

 

If they are that young, then they need to be on growers pellets or mash. You can convert them over to pellets by gradually mixing larger quantities of pellets in with their mash. The pellest that Omlet sell (manufactured by Allen & Page) are the smallest that I've found.

[TAJ]

I just cook the pasta for the chickens - just for entertainment!

 

Tracy

[chickenanne]

Do they look skinny? If the breast-bone is obvious then (though this does depend on the breed) then perhaps you do need to be concerned, but if they are lively and aren't bony then I think perhaps they just eat less than you expect. Try picking them up and seeing what you think - of course feathers do add a layer of padding which makes it difficult to judge just looking at them.

Chickens are really efficient at using food, i.e. they don't need to eat loads jsut to keep themselves going. When we got ours, about 8 months ago, I thought they weren't eating "enough" but they're all laying regularly and all fine.

Also, I've noticed mine eat significantly less in the summer when there's more to gobble up in the garden.

Possibly you're worrying without needing to.

[surferdog]

Hi, mine wouldn't eat their layers pellets either until I followed the tip on here to make porridge with them. I add garlic powder, limestone flour, bokashi bran and then just mix up to a porridge with warm water. They love it! Although funnily enough they have now started eating the pellets but only if they're in treat bowl.

[Sarah B]

Don't worry Jills, mine ate virtually no pellets till they both came in to laying. They are pellet city now!

 

Beacuse I work in the day, they have a single treat in the morning before I go (even though they should have no treats before 12) which is a slice of melon or some cooked courgette or cabbage or cauli greens or cooked pasta.

 

When I get home they have half a raw corn on the cob and some mixed corn.

 

Now that they are into laying bigtime the pellets are getting woofed.

 

It's taken this long though for them to love their pellets and I got them late Feb.

 

Sarah x