Stevie Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 I've been experimenting with mash & pellets. Mine have good appetites with pellets,but seem to prefer mash to such a degree its almost like watching a feeding frenzy early in the morning.I bought a small 5kg bag a few weeks back and have been switching types since to see which they like best.Only drawback with mash is the mess as they get it all over themselves and the floor while pellets stay inside the peanut feeder.My only concern is whether it will attract vermin being scattered on ground. I can see they prefer mash,but would you give them what they like best and damn the consequences??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 I voted 'tasty mash'! I would much rather give them what they like, it's nice to see them enjoying themselves bless them . You can always put a small tray underneath to catch the bits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 24, 2008 Author Share Posted May 24, 2008 Thanks! I needed anothers input cos when i see them eating mash so greedily-it lets me know they're happy.It was just the messyness of mash which kept giving me second thoughts. Thanks you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 much preferable to the messiness of the poo tho'!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 If the spilt mash stays on the ground it smells worse than the poo, really it does! Plus, as you say, attracts rats. Some of you may have found a good system for catching the loose mash but I never did, they always tipped up the tray. So, I voted safe pellets. I had the same dilemma as you but also a rat problem, so I'm a mean chicken mummy as they do love scattering mash if given the chance. However, I sometimes mix pellets with water & add mixed corn. I also buy a bag of mash & mix that with water occasionally, for fun & to ensure they are really eating enough. It only works to keep mine on pellets if that is their main food, they do devour them in the morning. If I alternated too much with mash they'd probably become less keen on the pellets. Haven't helped have I? I'm sure others manage mash but I couldn't in the loose form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 24, 2008 Author Share Posted May 24, 2008 Damn! Thought i'd made my mind up! One part of me wants them to be happy with what they're eating,but the other is realistic and dont want rats.Gonna have a good think about this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I'm a pellets girl as well. Much less messy, and they do eat it well, so why spoil a good thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Maybe I'm just fortunate, but I have mash in a feeder that hangs from the run roof on a chain and hook. It is set at just below their head height and mine don't spill any (but the rabbits try to eat it and tip it with their paws). I also make sure I don't fill it up completely - just add a jug of mash each day and top up when it starts running out - that way if it does fall off the chain, there is less to spill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustyangel Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I'm feeding pellets too, although I do have two cats who are excellent hunters so not overly concerned about vermin. My choice was based on the mess and smell of leftover mash (my run has woodchip on the floor which is a pain to clean). The pellets work for us as the 'access all day' food in the run but we give them treats which they go nuts for (like boiled potato peelings, mealworms, fresh corn, porridge, granary bread mashed up in natural bio yoghurt) so we still see plenty of feeding frenzies! I can give the girls treats on the patio while they are free-ranging in the garden and then sweep/ hose down the mess afterwards. I hope this helps Debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 i feed mine pellets and they only go near them if they have to - perhaps you should try mixing mash with something thicker like porridge or mashed potato so that it is less likely to spill...? we tend to give them tons of s"Ooops, word censored!"s from dinner and also corn so they don't eat that much of thier proper food anyway! we should stop really but i can't help but make them happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I feed my girls mash. They love it. I have a large cat litter tray thing under the peanut to catch the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I voted pellets. The hens love them if they haven't tried anything else. You have to make life easy for yourself from the start. Think about how hard mash is going to be in the depths of the winter. Also I don't understand what you do with leftover mash at the end of the day. Do you throw it away? This seems a waste. I bring my pellets in each day and amalgamate them in the feeder that the hens like best, so every s"Ooops, word censored!" gets eaten and I know no pellets have ever been out more than 36 hours. The smell of old hen food on the ground (pellets or mash) is dreadful. And I still get rats.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Mine love mash. I tried them with pellets because of the mess thing but they didn't like them. I found that they made _loads_ of mesh with organic mash because it is milled finer and they seemed to chuck loads of it on the floor to find the best bits. they don't do it so much with standard mash so I've gone back to standard. I like the fact that mash keeps them occupied and also it is so easy to mix in the various supplements I give them Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I use mash because it's easier to add stuff to it. Flubenvet will just mix in wheras with pellets you have to make it stick with oil and I found they didn't eat the eggshell when it was mixed with pellets. With mash they have to eat it all! They prefer it too, I've been getting less soft eggs since I switched to mash as they eat more of that and less stuff from the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I feed my girls mash and they love it. I put it in a hopper and the small amount that spills is eaten from the ground. I don't have any problems with smells or rats. It probably takes longer to eat than pellets so keeps them occupied for a good part of the day. They seem very contented with no pecking problems. Also, it is much easier to mix in limestone flour and flubenvet without having to add water. It gets my vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 25, 2008 Author Share Posted May 25, 2008 God! Now i really am divided!!! During the week-they're confined to the Eglu's run until i get home from work so logic would say that mash would be best as it takes them longer to eat so keeps them occupied.Pellets are cleaner though,but they dont eat them with as much gusto. Descions descions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 This won't help but mine eat their pellets quite happily . Even if they're freeranging, they all pop back to the grub regularly and have a peck at them. We bring our grub in every night and just add more pellets each morning. It gets washed out occasionally . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Mine are on pellets too. They seem to like them and eat them at frequent intervals, also when they are freeranging they pop back in the run for a quick snack. I am not going to try them on mash, in case they prefer it, because I don't need yet more mess to clear up Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 big vote for pellets here too. Easy for me and easy for the chooks as even in the afternoon they are munching away on pellets in the grub. My lot also prefer organic pellets to standard pellets (they would wouldnt they?! ) we noticed a dramatic increase in volume consumed once we switched to organic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I don't know what to do now! Stevie I feel your pain! I was going to change them to mash when they went onto layers food in about 3 weeks time (they will be 18 weeks by then hope that's the right time to change!!). But lately they have started to eat more of the growers pellets although every afternoon I am still making them a pellet porridge (with a delicious mealworm & grape topping ) - and they love it. So am torn between trying them with the mash which I'm sure they will love, but fearing that they may never eat another pellet ever again (if it does make a mess and smell worse than poo!!). Decisions, decisions!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 25, 2008 Author Share Posted May 25, 2008 I think its gonna have to be pellets.I've been weighing up the pro's & cons of both and the one thing which settles it is rats...i dont want them.I shouldnt feel too guilty cos they do get a good few hours atleast of freeranging time every day and much much more at weekends so its not they're living sheltered lives. Pellets it is then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I put bokashi bran in with the pellets - they seem to love that and the bonus is, their poo is firm and less smelly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 25, 2008 Author Share Posted May 25, 2008 I put bokashi bran in with the pellets - they seem to love that and the bonus is, their poo is firm and less smelly . I already mix garlic powder with their food which does dampen down the poo smell,but might give the bran a go when this tub runs out as it should speed up decompostion. Reading back through various posts though,i still think mash has some advantages over pellets,but i'll have to sleep on it.I still have half sack of Omlet pellets left so got a few weeks atleast to go before i need to get more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 It's a good idea to start with pellets, anyway. From what I have read, it is easy to change from pellets to mash later, but impossible to change from mash to pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 From what I have read, it is easy to change from pellets to mash later, but impossible to change from mash to pellets. I changed my ex-batts from mash to pellets by doing it gradually and adding a few to the mash, and then increasing the amounts until they were eating all pellets and no mash. The process took about a fortnight. Maybe I was lucky, but they didn't bat (or is that batt) an eyelid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
