Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[mdp1673]

We have a feeder that we normally keep topped up with layers pellets mixed with garlic powder, over the last few weeks though they seem to hardly have been touched and over the last two weeks the number of eggs we have been getting has gone down from 2 or 3 to 1 or none

I've bought a kilo of layers mash over the weekend and they seem to be tucking into that and yesterday we had 2 eggs again. Can't see anything else wrong with them - they are still a bit tatty though after 2 months from being rescued.

There shouldnt be a problem keeping them on mash should there?

[Tina C]

Are they ex-batts?

 

You are usually advised to feed ex-batts mash as that is what they are used to (some people then change them over to pellets gradually).

 

Mash is fine and they will probably prefer it.

 

We feed both - mash in the morning and pellets available all the time.

[stoice]

maybe too much garlic? Consider cutting it back for a few days to see if you notice a difference?

 

My exbatts took a while to like the pellets. We started them on mash then added pellets to them gradually. The pellets at the moment are the 'in thing' but every few weeks they seem to change their mind and prefer mash As I still have plenty of mash i always give them both mixed together so they can choose what they want. Fussy things. Also it may feel like comfort food to them if they've been unsettled, considering it's all they had eaten for 18months.

[mdp1673]

thanks for the advice. will stock up with a big bag of mash tonight and keep them on it along with everything else they get , rice, pasta, grapes, tortillas and snails

[Tina C]

The other thing I thought was - how old are the pellets - could they have gone off?

[mdp1673]

The other thing I thought was - how old are the pellets - could they have gone off?

 

The bag is about 6 weeks old, will stick to the mash I think seeing as they are enjoying it

[Egluntyne]

You may as well if they are happier on it.

 

I changed my ex-batts over gradually by mixing pellets with the mash in increasing amounts over a couple of weeks. They didn't object.....I'm not sure they noticed.

 

You could try this at a later date if it takes your fancy.

[mdp1673]

Its done the trick - I'm back up to 4 eggs a day now

[Egluntyne]

Good news.

[Sandychick]

Its done the trick - I'm back up to 4 eggs a day now

 

How long did it take to notice the difference in eggs?? I've been muttering about a simular situation on the 'eggs' forum. Egg production getting less and less and pellett consumption less and less too!

 

I couldn't find mash anywhere in quantities less than 20kg - bit too much for my 3! Anyway, I put their pellets, limestone flour and garlic in the food blender to make a mash to see if they liked it.......and they love it!! All three are now gobbling away, but still waiting to see a difference in egg numbers.

[mdp1673]

It took about a week or so to get back up to speed.

The 20kg bag we bought will last us about 8 weeks I reckon going by the rate they are getting through it.

 

Got sick of them knocking auboise into the food so we bought them a raised dog bowl to put the mash in and they are clearing two bowls full a day

[Sandychick]

Ok thanks. 1 egg in 2 days............ waiting hopefully!!!