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

[dolly_mixtures]

I just wondered what thoughts anyone has on the difference between different makes of layers pellets. Is it a case of you get what you pay for or are they all much of a muchness. I do not mean the organic pellets.

 

The reason I am asking is because someone has given me a bag of a make I have never heard of and they smell a bit fishy. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[moochoo]

I've never really thought there was much between the general non-organic pellets. They all seem to have the same proportions of ingredients in them. Do you think the bag's out of date? They do go off after a couple of months, once opened.

I am getting great results with the ex-batt pellets though...but that's a different thread all together.

[meezers]

I was wondering this as well. I have always bought Dobsons and Horrells , but they are the most expensive around here and last week I told myself to save a bit of money and try a different brand.

I've now got farm gate in a horrid plastic sack, the chooks don't seem to have noticed and are eating as much as ever, but I think the pellets smell 'yuk' almost a manurey tang to them. I've compared the ingredients and there is very little difference, one has more fibre and ash, the farmgate has more soya and also bakery by product.

I'll be going back to Dobsons and Horrells, just cos it smells nicer and I can use the paper sack to line the coop afterwards:lol:

[Lewis]

I use Allen and Page, and haven't had any problems.

 

Omlet do sell their version of Layers pellets now.

[wiblick]

Protein content can differ. At least between the ones I'm using and the most popular Irish brand. Most books advocate at least 16% protein, the popular Irish brand only has 15.

[Phosphorus]

I've always used Marriages, just because my farm shop sells it and it has a good reputation. Will have to check the label for contents now

[smithy36]

I have bought Allen & Page previously, but bought Countrywide's own make this time. The pellets are bigger, but the chickens are wolfing it down - I dont know if they just liked the change - they seem OK? I assume that as such a reputable retailer they will be good? And they qre £3 a bag cheaper !

[Egluntyne]

My lot wouldn't touch the Allen and Page Organic ones.

 

They have Golden yolk layers pellets and seem to thrive on them.

 

Bang went my totally organic dream though. *tuts*

[abwsco]

My lot wouldn't touch the Allen and Page Organic ones.

 

They have Golden yolk layers pellets and seem to thrive on them.

 

Bang went my totally organic dream though. *tuts*

 

Mine wouldn't touch the Golden Yolk ones. Can't remember the brand they're currently on as I got some from an Agri merchant.

[Busybird]

I take whatever bag the local agricultural centre sells me and the girls eat it fine. I wasn't worried about it being organic as my garden isn't and they free range so much.

 

However, having looked at the ingredients they list a 'yolk enhancer' I'm now worried that this is some sort of colourant and their gorgeous yellow yolks aren't natural. Does anyone know if this is the case?

[puddleduck]

I use Dobson & Horrells because they are based just 10 minutes away and therefore is by far the cheapest for me!

[Griffin]

Everyone here has Allen & Page Smallholders. I use the Layers & Growers pellets, have also used their Chick Crumb too. Mine hated the Dodson & Horrell pellets and weren't too keen on the cheap pellets I bought from a local feed merchant and to be honest neither was I due to finding bits of plastic in the pellets and other dubious foreign objects. I'd rather pay a few pounds more for the A&P pellets and know they're of good quality.

[kerryegg]

Hereford branch of Countrywide stores have layers pellets, were £7.59 a sack, not plastic. Lasted my two over 2 months and no problems. Previously fed organic but it got very expensive.

Nice to see another Herefordshire member.

[Barkisland]

My Gals are currently getting through 20Kg of A&P Smallholders pellets a fortnight! My first layers pellets were locally manufactured, and much cheaper, the girls didn't seem to notice when I swapped them over - although the Smallholders pellets are tiny. I changed because I thought A&P would be better quality, I don't know if this was misguided?

I also got some mash from the local manufacturer when I got my ex batts, thinking they wouldn't be able to cope with pellets. (I was wrong) So made it into porridge and they loved it - it was gone in minutes! My friend, who had chooks before me, had never tried porridge, so I gave her some mash to try and her girls loved it too

I've asked my feed merchant (twice ) to get some ex batt feed in, I'll need some more pellets this week, so hope he has got me some. I can't wait to try them on it. (Henthusiast has tipped me off about another place that sells ex batt feed though, so I may have to set off further afield if he hasn't got me some).

[meezers]

Hereford branch of Countrywide stores have layers pellets, were £7.59 a sack, not plastic. Lasted my two over 2 months and no problems. Previously fed organic but it got very expensive.

Nice to see another Herefordshire member.

 

Hi , yes Herefordshire members seem to be few and far between ! Were they the Countrywide own brand pellets you had ? I like to be able to read the labels before I buy ( takes me ages in the supermarket ! ) so the way they stock them 'out the back' at countrywide is a bit of a pain. General Dogsbody ( behind the train station ) is where I got the Farmgate pellets from - handy to know if you are ever stuck.

[kerryegg]

Thanks. Get the dog food from Dogsbody as they are usually the cheapest. The layers were called smallholder range, lots of ingredients including protein 16%, oil 3.75%. Wheat and wheatfeed seem to bulk it up with loads of vitamins etc.

I try not to eat things I can't pronounce or spell. What on earth am I feeding my chooks!

Anyway they are thriving on it and laying well.

[Henhathnofury]

Mine have both layers mash and pellets - they are marriages. I haven't really tried them on anything else but friends are amazed just how expensive feed has become - hence the high price of eggs.

 

I am Reading based now but grew up in Herefordshire - Hereford in fact. I lived opposite the Saracen's Head pub by the old bridge. I do miss that part of the world - Hay on Wye, all those gorgeous places. My parents had chickens there so that was the thing that set me off on a chicken path....

[Cinnamon]

Posted by Kerryegg:

 

Herefordshire is beautiful but hereford really changed from the quiet market town it used to be, not forgetting the Friday night drink fuelled s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Let me know if you are ever down this way and need a cup of tea or a chook cuddle.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Mine have had allsorts - though no liquorice ones !

 

The last 2 bags I've had were Spillers - with natural yolk enhancers, whatever they are, however the number of softies I'm getting is no longer funny. I'm swapping over to the BHWT ones, starting Saturday just gone, with a small bag of pellets.

 

Aren't they diddy! My band of louts were extremely unimpressed with them when I just offered them some to take from my hand, but have eaten them quite happily when made into a porridge, whether mixed on their own or with the Spillers mash. They have a separate grub of BHWT pellets which seems to be disappearing as quickly as the other pellets. I've ordered a bag of whatever Robyn can get for me quickest form her wholesaler, so I can swap over totally ASAP.

 

I may have to put the price of the eggs up so the chooks stay self-sufficient!!

 

Sha x

[Redwing]

Mine now get the cheapest as there are so many of them and they all eat different stuff.

 

I have dustbins of layers, growers, wheat, barley, corn and chick crumb - everywhere you look in my garden is a dustbin full of feed and its all getting very expensive

 

even the best food however is a small price to pay for such lovely eggs

 

I bought some BHWT food from mostin who had a spare sack and my girls are looking very threadbare and when offered it my girls ripped the Grub off the holder and rolled it 3ft away in their eagerness to get at the contents so they are a bit of a hit leaving me with a dilemma

[kerryegg]

Just got another bag from Countrywide, Hereford. Noticed they are made by Allen and Page and now cost over £9. Still the chooks love them and I only have two.

[Sky]

Have always used Marriages Pellets and Mash for mine since I had them and they seem to be thriving on them. Wouldn't even consider changing to a cheaper brand.

[meezers]

Just got another bag from Countrywide, Hereford. Noticed they are made by Allen and Page and now cost over £9. Still the chooks love them and I only have two.

 

That's what I paid for the Dobsons and Horrells from Pets at Home ! Did they have any cheaper brands there ? I find Countrywide a bit hit & miss with their stock.

[kerryegg]

Cheaper brand, sorry can't remember what is was called, was £7+. I didn't ask if they had them in stock as for £2 for a couple of months supply, I'd rather stick with the no GM etc feed.The feed also keeps a large family of sparrows in the best of health, chooks just stand back and let them eat out of the eglu container inside the run. Fortunately they chase off any black birds.

Probably cost me a fiver to drive there, but the dog enjoys a trip in the car.

[Griffin]

I paid £8 yesterday for A&P Layers and £8.55 for their Growers.