4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Joanne]

Mash or pellets??

 

I have had my chickens now for about six months and they started off with layers pellets. They made such a mess chucking them about that I decided to get some mash instead and mix the two. Now they will only eat the mash.

 

Is this a problem? Both the mash and the pellets have the same ingredients don`t they? I only ask because when reading posts from people who have ex batts, they seem to be eager to ween onto pellets instead of the mash.

 

What`s the difference, if any, please let me know.

[moochoo]

I started mine on pellets and after a pellet shortage at my suppliers changed to mash. I have to say my girls much prefer it and look much better on it. As you say they contain the same ingredients so as long as they're happy I wouldn't worry.

[Carol U]

The breeder I bought my chickens from told me that although the ingredients are identical, mash is better for chickens which are kept in a run for most of the time as it takes them longer to eat and therefore gives them something to do. Both mash and pellets are fine for freerange hens. Whichever they prefer.

[mostin]

This post appears to have been triplicated , I have answered on one of the others.

[sparkysmum]

Hi, my ladies have layers mash, together with bokashi and various supplements. I make this into porrage with hot water. As with everyone else who serves this to their ladies, they love it. The only issue I have is that it goes everywhere and you can't clean it out. I spend a small fortune in bark, chippings etc for their run. I have considered putting their feeding bowl in an old drawer or similar to see if this would keep their run less messy. If anyone has a solution to this I would love to hear from them Sorry Joanne if I've hijacked your thread

[Joanne]

Yes, sorry about the triplicate post, computer at work went a bit mad!!

 

Thanks for all the replies, I do find that it is easier to make a porrige with the mash and I also add some sweetcorn to it and they love that.

 

I have put a couple of old paving slabs under their feed bowls and am able to sweep/s"Ooops, word censored!"e/wash the spilled feed off there more easily.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Mine never ate pellets.

Well I say never ... they must have before they came to me but in my inexperience I didn't realise that chickens ate little until they started to lay.

The pellets I offered seemed to diminish little in the food bowls so I tried mash mixed with a little hot water and HEY PRESTO YUMMY MUMMY!!!!

They get mash porridge for brekky every morning fed in a large ceramic dog bowl that they can't tip over.

[Barkisland]

I think most people use pellets because they are easy to dispense into the feeder, and make less mess. I started offering my ex batts dry mash but they didn't touch it, so I made warm porridge and it was wolfed down, so I tried my other girls with it and woohoo! they loved it too. I have made a rod for my own back, I suppose. They will have to get used to pellets again when we go away, cos I'm pretty sure my neighbour won't be up at dawn to make porridge for them!

[thewhitehouse]

Mine were very happy on pellets until I discovered bokashi. Mixed with their pellets they would chuck everything out to get the bokashi (marvellous stuff btw). I found probably via this forum that wiggly wigglers do layers mash with bokashi already mixed in so I got a bag as a trial and fed it in one grub with pellets in the other. You've guessed it the mash with bokashi disappears in double quick time with the pellets left well alone. Somehow I don't think they'll want to go back to pellets.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Mine have pellets in their feed hopper and mash made into porridge in a large plastic plant saucer

[cathybc]

my ex-batts have a mix of mash and pellets, I have just ordered some wiggly-wigglers with bokashi so will be interested to see what the girls think (btw they have been out of the chook food due to the weather. But they were so apologetic and helpful, suggesting alternatives. I was impressed with the customer service, hope the girls like the food!)

[thewhitehouse]

Thanks for the tip off re possible wiggly delays (I placed my order online for a refill tonight). The girls will be bereft if they have to slum it on pellets again.