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

[SeasideChick]

I have 4 chickens. They are just over 1 year old. They have been very healthy and have laid brilliantly.

 

However, over the past 10 days I have noticed that they just don't want to eat their layers pellets. They are the same layers pellets (Allen & Page smallholder range) they have always had and I am half way through a bag. But, one day, they just seem to have all decided not to eat them!!! I just can't understand why???

 

They will eat corn with great delight or veggies and they are scratching around outside .. but they must be so hungry! I have tried to restrict their corn in an attempt to get them to eat the pellets ... but to no avail.

 

 

Has ANYONE got any ideas why they are doing this

 

They are still laying - still getting 2 or 3 eggs per day.

 

Thanks a lot.

[Lewis]

Try only feeding them layers pellets, and hopefully they will eat it again.

It could be that they prefer corn + treats, so will eat them first, whereas if they only have layers pellets, they don't have the option.

[Budgies]

Sometimes if the food has become damp it goes sour, or if it is around the best before date too it seems to be less appetising to them.

 

If neither of these is applicable then definitely withdraw treats for a while!

[chelsea]

or change brands.....

 

I suppose chickens might be a bit like us and get a bit fed up with the same old thing. We have just changed over to the ex batt Allen & Page range and noticed a big increase in pellet consumption and egg production.

 

We mixed the new brand bag and our old brand that we had left over to start off with so we werent throwing the old bag out.

[SeasideChick]

OK, I will withdraw all treats ... and then if they still won't eat the pellets, I'll go and buy some different ones!!

 

Will also check the date on it!

 

Thanks for all your replies

[telechookies]

Mine dont seem to like eating out of the grub box.. they did to begin with, when we give them treats its in this separate bowl so they seem to prefer eating out of that..

 

Try adding a bit of hot water and mashing them up to make a porridge, i find this is a good way of using up the pellet they dont eat, I sometimes add odd veg, leftover rice and garlic with some chicken spice they will eat it all up.. they seem to think it is a treat.. bit worried they will over eat on it in fact!!!

 

Can chickens over eat?