Wantchooks Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I am about to get to the bottom of the layers mash supplied with my chooks and am not sure whether to stick with mash or move onto pellets. My girls don't go out of their run (12'x8') and I was told by the chook supplier that I needed to feed mash as it kept them quiet for longer trying to pick it up, and that pellets were for free ranging chooks as the pellets were easier to eat. The idea being that as they were easier to eat, it would ensure that a freeranging bird got all it needed, but if you fed pellets to chooks penned in they would overeat. Although mine do a good job overeating with the mash! But - It's easier to get good quality pellets where I live The girls spray half of the mash all over the floor and it gets mixed in with the aubiose so they leave it - or eat the bedding as well! What does everyone else do? Anyone out there with a similar set up who just feeds pellets? Any ill effects? Any advice gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I started with pellets, then changed to mash for the same reasons as you have given. I've now gone back to pellets again! The girls were scattering mash and itwas being spilt etc. Mine have had no ill effects and are also all in runs. You also say the pellets arebetter quality so i'd get them if i was you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosey Supposey Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 When the chooks weren't free ranging I went over to pellets thinking they'd be cleaner (no more piles of mash all over the floor), but I just ended up with a thick ground covering of pellets instead! The pellets were actually worse to clean up, mash mess was easy to get with a dust pan and brush - the pellet 'carpet' needed real scrubbing with a hard brush to clean the run. The girls pretty much turned their beaks up at pellets. When I gave pellets only they refused to eat them. When I gave a mix of pellets and mash they'd just pick out the mash and kick the pellets around. I gave up in the end and just ground up the pellets to make layers porridge. It's tough to get mash around here so I buy 3 sacks at a time and get them delivered. (Should mention my girls are ex-batts, which can find it difficult going from mash to pellets!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Pellets contain everything in one easy mouthful, so I stick to them. When I did feed mash, they would 'beak out' the contents of the feeders, looking for their favourite in the mash If you do decide to get pellets, it is best to introduce them slowly, so they get used to them. Day 1 - feed mostly mash with some pellets and gradually increase the pellet to mash ratio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 Think I will try the pellets then - have enough mash left to introduce it at the mo. I have googled this subject too and found that my girls seem to get through twice as much as people say they need - obviously more on the floor than I thought!!! Will weigh it out now too for a while and see what happens. Pinky is the lowest in the order but she seems to be at the grub as much as the others so hopefully will get her share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Mash = Mess all over the ground for my lot. Had forgotten how bad but now that I have a whole load all over the place, I have mad a mental note not to buy it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I tend to alternate with what I buy, just to keep them interested. Having said that, the mash makes such a mess when they furtle through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I feed both mash and pellets. For the mash I use a trough similar to THIS and have very little mesh as the grid means they can`t flick it about so much. In the olden days when I fed mash in the Grubs I would end up with almost all of it on the floor. BUT having said that I think it can be down to the brand as I found Wigglys and Smallholders to be very fine and mostly dust which they scooped out and deposited on the floor whereas now I feed Garvo which is very chunky they eat all of it and hardly any goes on the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I use gravity feeders and have been giving Garvo mash or Smallholder pellets and they still root around in the mash and flick it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I use gravity feeders and have been giving Garvo mash or Smallholder pellets and they still root around in the mash and flick it out I changed from gravity feeders for mash cos they were flicking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I have some troughs from years ago, but they just perch on top and poo in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I have some troughs from years ago, but they just perch on top and poo in them My pekins perch on the gravity feeders NOT the troughs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
