JEAN Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Hi, fairly new to chicken keeping and am hoping to get some advice. When we ordered the eglu we got a bag of layers pellets from Omlet. Having just about reached the bottom of the sack we went in search of more. Managed to find Dobson & Horrell layers pellets at £8.35 for 20kg in our local pet supply store. Started to notice that the poos are maybe a bit more potent and not sure if this is new food related or to do with firework noise making them nervous. Anyway, have discovered another supplier who sells Allen & Page pellets (are these the Omlet ones?). They have a 'high quality' (with omega 3 & no hexane derived ingredients) pellet £10.45 for 20kg and also the organic 'premium quality' for £15.10 for 20kg. Has anyone got any advice from their own experience with any of these products & are these fairly typical prices? Obviously would like to save money but also want the girls to have a good food! Thanks for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I am also fairly new to it, but... My local pet suppliers sells the Allen and Page pellets 20kg for £8.45. I have just gone for the cheapest (Bamfords) at £7.99 for 25kg. The chickens love them. It is interesting what you say about poos smelling. Mine do have quite smelly poos but were fed on layers mash up till now. The shop said the only difference between the allen & page and bamfords is that that A&P is GM free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Hi Do you give them garlic powder ? It does seem to keep the smell down (surprisingly). I buy it from a horsey shop and mix it with a few weeks worth of layer pellets in an old tupperware box. I also add some poultry spice. Quantities aren't exact. Then I just scoup out a few days worth and put in grub (everyother day or so) - saves having to add extra's everyday. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I use Allen and Page but add a bit of Bokashi bran and garlic powder to stop the poo from smelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEAN Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 We have been giving them the garlic but I maybe need to adjust the amount. My concern was that maybe the new food wasn't as good if it was coming out stinkier. The experience with dog food is that cheaper is not better and I was wondering if it was the same with chooks. Sounds like our local prices are quite high too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Mine have Dobson & Horrell and don't have stinky poos - well apart from the curry ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Mine have the Organic Feed Company's Layers Pellets. They are about £8 - £9 for a big bag. Their poos don't smell too bad. I mix it into Pellet Porridge each morning and add a heaped Teaspoon of Bokashi and a sprinkling of Poultry Spice and a teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil Plus of course they have the dry pellets in their Grub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoop Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Mine have the Organic Feed Company's Layers Pellets. Their poos don't smell too bad. And a sprinkling of Poultry Spice Same here and their poos are 'normal smelly' (!). Whn I put them on layers mash, Dolly's poo was like wet, black tar , so went back to pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Mine have standard (non-org) Doddson & Horrell pellets £7.65 (but this has shot up from £5.25 only 18 months ago). I am happy with the quality of the D&H stuff as it is GM free, medication free, added vitamins, calcium etc. The bags I buy don't have much info on them, but the website gives more info on the ingredients. http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/uk/dh/countryside/poultry/layers-pellets The poo smells were the same with Omlet stuff and D&H. However, I too use Garlic Powder mixed in with pellets daily which really helps with smells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Is it the garlic powder for horses that costs approx £4 per tub? What about using real garlic?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Is it the garlic powder for horses that costs approx £4 per tub? Yes What about using real garlic?? Never tried it......????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
