Sue Peters Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Hi Not sure where to post this question. I've had an eglu and 2 girls for 3 years and they have been on layers pellets. We recently rescued an ex-bat (Betty) and got some layers mash for her. The other two loved it and now none of them will go back to pellets. Shall I just persevere and take the mash away? Any thoughts on which feed is better for them? Advice appreciated. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Hi Sue, I've been told that they're exactly the same, just in a different form. The mash can make a bit of a mess (as I'm finding out since getting ex-batts two weeks ago) but my original girls seem to love it more than the pellets as well. I've started mixing a few pellets in for the ex-batts, and a bit of mash for my older girls .... and may even continue to do this long term. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henny penny Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Hi We have used both . Our first lot of chickens had layered pellets and our second the layered mash. The mash is definitely messier but it gives them something to pick through so tends to take longer to eat. However they do tend to chuck it around the floor. So we have now hit on the idea of mixing both pellets and mash and are trying that for a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New2this Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Hi, I use to give my girls pellets but noticed that they seemed to enjoy the Bokashi/mash more. So I decided to switched to layers mash, supplemented with the Bokashi - mash our of curiosity, and well, the girls 'go mad for it!'. They definitely prefer the layers mash and it could be coincidence but I've not had a single soft egg since. Yes they do tend to make a mess with it but that's something I'm quite happy to live we and besides, they love to scratch around in it afterwards. Hope that helps. Christine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I had this choice too,but mash is far too messy and i odnt want to attract vermin so pellets it is. I must add though that mine prefered mash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 My omlet girls were on pellets and the newbies brought up on mash. They all eat mash now. It is messier, but takes them ages to eat a full days worth of food. It keeps them busy for longer, so they are happy. I use a wooden seed tray under the grub feeder. 2-3 eat out of the grub, the others eat out of the seed tray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I had mash for my ex-batts, but soon weaned them onto pellets, which they eat happily. I couldn't be doing with the mess that mash made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Now I may be saying something really stupid here but arent batts fed mash because its pre-ground therefore doesnt need grit to digest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Ours prefer mash and although it is supposed to be messier, we haven't had much of a problem. One of our hens used to get bored and pull all the pellets out of the grub onto the floor so we probably get less mess with the mash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Mine were used to having pellets when they first arrived but I tried them with mash and they love it. I found that it was very messy in the grub as they would fling it everywhere (even with a tray underneath), now I've swapped to a galvanised tray it's much more civilised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 how do you make mash? - warm water and just stir it til its porridgey? my big girls get bored with theirs, and altho they freerange dawn to dusk so are not going hungry, I wouldnt mind getting a bit more layers stuff into them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I feed the layers mash as it comes in the sack.. It is just a granular feed that is used to make up the pellets. Wetting it makes it go sour quickly. Ours like it so much that they come in from free ranging to eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 oh, so I cant use my layers pellets to make mash then?? I thought it was like puppy weaning foods, in that you can just rehydrate as necessary. in that case they will just have to stick it out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 You can make a porridge using pellets or how about buying a small bag of mash and mixing the two beach chick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondinho Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Can you use a traditional hopper type feeder with layers mash? I'm tempted to try mine on it so it keeps them busier in the morning and therefore quieter for longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Don't see why not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
