debbie26pet Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 organic mash v mash what is the difference, does it do the eggs better or they taste differnt? what do others think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I feed my chickens Marriages mash (non-organic) which they do very well on. Personally, I think ordinary mash is fine and less expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I tried Marriages organic but found it was so finely ground that the hens threw it everywhere. I went back to non-organic Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Much as I wanted to keep my girls on an organic diet, they didn't like the pellets, even after they started laying I only had to fill up the grub once a week Two of them were underweight and their eggs were quite small so I decided to try them on layers mash instead, I bought some organic layers mash which was like a fine powder and for the first time ever they hardly took their heads out of the grub They also put on weight and their eggs got bigger though they did throw a lot of the mash on the floor. However, when the mash started running out I didn't have time to go to my usual farm (dear friend in hospital with terminal cancer, so I was also looking after her cat and house when I wasn't going to Guys hospital, seeing my disabled parents or working) so had to buy from the nearest place and the only layers mash they had wasn't organic This mash has a courser texture and they love it and hardly any gets thrown on the floor. Their eggs are now about 20g heavier than they were a few months ago though whether that is completely due to the food or would have happened anyway I can't be sure I'm quite upset that they aren't on a completely organic diet, but it would be wrong of me not to give them the food that they like. I haven't noticed any difference in the taste of the eggs so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Personally I would check their feed doesn't include Hipro Soya, which is processed using hexane. I'd be nervous using it if it mentions this or hexane itself which is actually a distilled petrol product (draw your own conclusions!). When it's used to extract soya oil, residues of hexane are left in the oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I usually get marriages pellets and marriages mash (Both non-organic as I don't always buy organic veg, past, rice, sweetcorn etc so if their treats aren't organic i didn't really see the point) their tastes change depending on their mood. this week pellets are the bees knees, next week it'll probably be mash! I was running low on marriages pellets so i bought a small 5kg bag of Small holder free range layers pellets (£4.90 though! ). These are a lot smaller pellets and have different nutritional value than marriages and my girls love them just as much. Not sure if it's connected but i got my first 4 egg day last week as babs has been laying softies for weeks. May keep going with small holders pellets if i can find the larger sacks that aren't too expensive. Marriages is about £7 where I am in essex and small holders from where i got the small bag would be well over a tenner - anyone know where i can it cheaper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Marriages is about £7 where I am in essex and small holders from where i got the small bag would be well over a tenner - anyone know where i can it cheaper? Coo! You are doing ok with your Marriages! I bought another 20kg bag last week - we get through about one every 3 weeks - and it had gone up to £9 It seems to be going up on a weekly basis here. The nearest other place to get the feed is aboout 20 miles or so, if not more, so what I would save on feed I would loose through petrol. I also don't feed organic - for the same reason. I cannot guarantee that everything else they are eating is organic. I am very fussy about the amount of Soya though and stopped using our local grain place because it contained 40% soya and the quality of the shells and number of eggs a day dropped dramatically. I also have quite a violent an allergy to soya and I was concerned that amount of soya in their food may have some effect on their eggs (me not being scientific 'n' all!). I had initially changed to the local grain place from Marriages to support 'local'. Also the organic feed is £16 a bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 HI Stoice... I use small holders and get a 20kg sack from D&F feeds is hullbridge, behind lubbards farm.... I think it's £9.25 a sack which is quite hight I think... but mine really like it, and have never been on anything else..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 it had gone up to £9 Ouch! It WAS quite a few weeks ago i last bought marriages (the smaller sack of small holders was a top up) Funnily enough the actual marriages store in colchester sells it more expensively than a horsey place near me (upsons) - maybe they buy it at a whole sale price and haven't bought any more in for a while so haven't passed on the price hike. I have a feeling my next food shop will be a tad more costly then. Good job i sell some of the girls excess eggs to help fund their feed. Thanks Quickcluck, doesn't sound too pricey now then, by all accounts everything has gone up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I buy 20kg sack Dodson & Horrells layers mash for £6.75 and mine prefer this to organic.They never ate their food with much enthusiasm until i changed to non organic food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 OMG! Thanks, Clur & Redfrock, I hadn't even thought about the ingredients If you read my previous post you'll understand that I was desperate and had to take what I could get. I've checked the bag and not only does it contain hipro soya they also use GM ingredients It must be from your local one Redfrock as it's near to Canterbury. I can't believe I've slipped up like this as we eat a mainly organic diet so even the girls treats were organic and now I've fed them rubbish I'm also ashamed to say that they do seem to be doing well on it. So now the search continues for a good quality layers mash that isn't too powdery like the organic feed company one. Any suggestions? Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I mix in some Bokashi Bran to the powdery mash and this helps a bit if that is any help. I have only just moved over to the SmallHolder mash recently (used to use Wiggly Wigglers Bokashi Layers Mash) and you are quite right this is REALLY powdery and they fling it everywhere. Hope someone comes up with a good alternative suggestion as I'd definitely like to try something else. I hadn't even thought about the ingredients If you read my previous post you'll understand that I was desperate and had to take what I could get. I've checked the bag and not only does it contain hipro soya they also use GM ingredients You can't beat yourself up about this, is wasn't intentional Reikiranf. I am sure there are hundreds of us who never look at the ingredients breakdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 found the same with WWigglers with bokashi, so much wastage & expensive too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Don't worry about what you've fed them, you've obviously only got the best of intentions for them and how would you know unless someone mentioned it (they don't publicise these things!). The only reason I was aware was because the breeder we got our chooks from advised us. With the powdery mash, would it work to add a little cod liver oil to it to clump it a little??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Same as Clur says! You weren't to know and you bought what you could. I was quite a few sacks into it before I thought to read the ingredients and that was only because of the dramatic drop in shell quality, otherwise I wouldn't have even thought to check. It is one of the blessings of having a forum such as this that we are all able to share information and learn from each other's experiences (or mistakes ) I've pm'd you as to where I bought my feed from - be interesting if it is the same place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I use smallholders mash, which is great! The main consideration for me is that it is Veggie, GM and Hyprosoya free and contains nothing artificial etc. This is important to me as I want to know what goes into my eggs, and my girls are in the best of health! Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 At the chance of sounding like a looney. If you use 'mash' do you mix it with water and make a porridge or give it to them dry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 If you use 'mash' do you mix it with water and make a porridge or give it to them dry? Feed it dry if you're using it as their main foodstuff - it quickly goes sour if left wet. Just to confuse you - some people use it wet like porridge as a treat food! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
