Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Ginfiend]

We are reaching the bottom of our introductory bag of Omlet food and have been mixing with some new layers pellets to get them used to the new feed.

 

I know they like to chuck food around - but there does seem to be A LOT on the ground! Is this just how chickens are, or are they trying to tell me they don't like the new feed?! I've got a huge sack of it, so I need them to eat it!

 

I was wondering if it has anything to do with it being pellets rather than the crumbly stuff from Omlet....?

 

[Egluntyne]

Probably. They will be rummaging through to find what they are used to.

 

A cat litter tray on the floor under the grub will catch most of the spills, which will get a bit smelly when damp.

[Christian]

It can be difficult for them if you are changing from layers mash to pellets. Best to introduce the pellets slowly, gradually increasing the pellet to mash ratio.

 

Some just change to pellets overnight and let them get on with it. They will eat when they are hungry.

[ubereglu]

It's probably because the omlet feed has corn in it and layers pellets don't. I'd probably hang the feeders up a little higher as then they find it harder to shuffle through their food and less of it gets on the floor.

 

You're doing the right thing though.

[Jools]

And remove the feeders when they've chucked the food around .... they soon eat up the spillage then.

[The Dogmother]

I use a gravity feeder as I found the Omlet feeders too shallow, and too small for a dozen hungry hens. If they sprinkle it on the floor, I just don't refill the feeder until they've cleaned it all up!