mostin Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Everybody on this forum seems to give their chooks mash porridge with the supplements mixed in and say their hens love it. The trouble is I only have 2 hens and a huge bag of pellets. It may already go out of date before I get to the bottom of it as they don't seem that keen on them. I didn't want to buy a sack of mash as well and have 2 bags on the go. So I wondered if anyone knew if I could do the same sort of thing with with pellets or is it a stupid idea. I've never made it before with mash or pellets, I assume I just mix them with some water but do I use hot or cold? Appologies if I am being daft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 They love it warm in the cold weather. You can sneak all sorts of supplements into it and they don't complain. I find that the pellets take quite a long time to dissolve, and they do absorb a heck of a lot of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 thank you, once again you come to my aid, you are fast becoming my chicken guru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 When Igot my chickens first, one of them wasn`t well, long story and all better now but she was on antibiotics for a while. Like you I only had the sackof pellets but mixed this with some probiotic yogurt and it did take a while to go mushy but they both loved it.....so much so that now they won`t touch the pellets If I give them pellets, they just chuck them all over the place. So I have been adding water to the pellets for them, that`s the only way they`ll eat them now They do soak up a lot of water and tend to go a bit hard in the grub after a bit, so Ibreak it up again with a fork. Even though it`s made with water I find that after a couple of days it sort of smells sour so I throw that out and make a fresh batch. These chooks are a fussy bunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheik Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I always make porridge with pellets, they crumble into mush if you put a hot tap on them. As noted by other people here, ours seem to enjoy them more like this - although mixing in corn, veg, rice, sweetcorn etc doesn't hurt either . /\dam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 Thanks Joanne and Adam, I made some with hot water this morning and it does seem to help them mush up far more quickly. As per usual my ladies wouldn't have anything to do with my efforts but I mixed a couple of mealworms in and then that got their attention! I think they may have a new breakfast favourite now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I made some in a stoneware container once and put it in the run. They looked at it then one of them walked over it to see if I had anything else and pooed in it while looking lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 That sounds about right! They're not shy about letting you know when they don't like something are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 there is a couple sellers on ebay sell small bags for people like yourself. were i get my feed they sell mash etc by the kilo, so mine are pellet fed now, and i do get a bit of mash to give them warm porridge, as they wouldnt touch it made with pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 Thank you for that, I will definitely look on ebay to see what smaller size bags are available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Thanks Debbie, might get a smaller bag so I can do that on cold evenings for them, they might prefer it made with mash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Handful of pellets - half a heel of bread and a huge handful of porridge oats - -pour boiling water over and stir like mad and then add cold water - wait till cools and add some sweetcorn - they love it This is between 3 hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 thank you for the recipe, I think I'll be needing a few as each time I went outside today they had emptied the bowl and were pecking it meaningfully while staring at me. I had to kepp making more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 No this is treats once a day - the pellets in the grub are the mainstay of their diet plus the foraging they do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 ok understood, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iar fach goch Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 on a wet and windy day like today mine like nothing better than a bowlful of warm pellets porridge before bedtime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivihen Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I've just had to cut my losses with the big bag of pellets, my two chickens have never seemed at all keen on eating them, dry, mixed with hot water or mixed with yoghourt; I thought they might be contaminated so bought a small bag of a different brand but they refused to eat them either. This week I have found somewhere selling small bags of layers mash and luckily they both eat eat it and seem to enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 No this is treats once a day - the pellets in the grub are the mainstay of their diet plus the foraging they do Can you get layers mash which has the same ingredients as the pellets? I was going to try and find something like that when my pellets run out. Must do some research......unless anyone here knows?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 They are pretty much the same ingredients wise......especially if you get the same brand. Mine love mash.....but I can't stand the mess. I just get it for invalids now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 mine like some growers mixed with boiling water and whatever treats in the afternoon... i have to hide the bowl whilst it cools or they nearly attack me for it! lol. They have dry pellets to...i blame it on the pink bowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 boiling water... mash in seconds add ready brek cheese lots of other things too. mmmmmmm yum.... bok bok gots ome more? small holders do small bags, don't worry MAY bought sack mash, hated mess bought sack pellets (they not so keen use pellets for porridge) told to take off layers put on mixed corn. (still laid so back to layers) corn for treat in aft only. Sept had to order more mash. got small bucket of corn & small bucket of pellets left. 3 chickens till last month then 1 more. It will go quickly now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adams Egg Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Old coffee grinder off frecycle did the trick, then mix in whatever you fancy, they fight to get at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Wonderful advice from you all thank you, it's all gratefully appreciated by me, and judging by the bok boks, by those outside as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
