eggregiousness Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I bought one wee bag to see what the girls thought of it and now they are turning their noses up at anything else! They have been on hunger strike for 3 days..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 mine love it too, they had their first taste a couple of weeks back when a kind friend gave me a packet. I usually give them a little of the Smallholder super mixed corn with some dried mealworms mixed in at the end of the day. I have mixed the Alfamix in with this. Make sure that yours eat all their pellets during the day before they get any treats though or they will stop laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 The Alfamix range is designed to be fed as a complete balanced feed. They do a seperate treat called Chicken Treat. I would love to feed it as the only feed but with 15 (plus the chicks) it would make a sizable dent in ones pocket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I looked at the ingredients carefully and decided that it fell into the 'treat category' for my lot; it has quite a lot of fattening grains in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted May 12, 2010 Author Share Posted May 12, 2010 Make sure that yours eat all their pellets during the day before they get any treats though or they will stop laying. They have given up pellets! I am just about to cave and let them have Alfamix.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 It's your choice, but I'd cut out the Alfamix fro now and leave them with the pellets or mash - they won't go hungry once they realise that's what they are getting. Then you can reintroduce the Alfamix at a later date and in smaller quantities. The choice is yours, but as you said, it is a costly way of feeding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I have just worked it out based on my local retailers prices. If my 15 eat the higher end of the daily food guide (150g) it would cost me: Alfamix - £4.36 per day Layers - 89p per day I think that says it all for my situation but if for just 2 chooks = Alfamix - 58p per day Layers - 12p per day Which seems a tad more reasonable and it costs me more than 58p to feed one of my cats and there is no chance of them producing me any eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISCA Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I started mine off on Alfamix Chicks. A 4 kg (£7.50 + ) bag lasts just over a week at the moment (they are 12 weeks old). Expensive. I shall carry on for now but any more than the 6 and I would probably put them on pellets or mash. It does look tasty though- certainly nicer than Alpen, although I have not been tempted to try a bowl with milk just yet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISCA Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I looked at the ingredients carefully and decided that it fell into the 'treat category' for my lot; it has quite a lot of fattening grains in it. It is a complete food (and also contains grit). It has been shown that chickens will eat less of it compared to pellets or mash, many say 10%+ less. This makes it more affordable. There are many who swear by Garvo feeds, claiming it has boosted general condition of their flock and increased egg production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggalp Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Hello, please can you let me know where you buy this from online as i have been looking for a while and cannot find anywhere online that sells it..........i would love to get some for my three monsters many thanks alison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 My lot get Garvo pellets or mash and eat less of this compared to when they were on the A&P. There are many who swear by Garvo feeds, claiming it has boosted general condition of their flock and increased egg production. I am one of them! As long as I can get my hands on it I will always feed Garvo. Eggs coming out of my ears at the mo! I had planned to start the chicks on Alfa but now that the cochins are that little bit bigger they eat for england and I can`t keep their feeder full enough. Just looked at the fat content: 731 Layers - 3.8% 108040 Alfa chickens - 4.4% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Don't get me wrong guys, I have nothing against the feed, in fact, I alternate my girls on the garvo layers pellets and smallholder pellets; they seem to like both equally. I just see the Alfamix as more of a treat given it's ingredients. I was given a packet, but will probably go back to their usual mix of smallholder super mixed corn with dried mealworms and gammarus shrimps. The only Garvo supplier near me is only open weekdays though, so I can't get it easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISCA Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Hello, please can you let me know where you buy this from online as i have been looking for a while and cannot find anywhere online that sells it..........i would love to get some for my three monsters many thanks alison You can get a wide range of Garvo feeds from Newland Poultry. There is a set delivery charge for up to 20 Kg so if you order a bag, get a large one! http://www.newlandgrange.com/page16.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Hi, I have to say that I gave in & have been feeding my ladies Alphamix for the last couple of months. Although it is hugely expensive they do love it and it is enormously satisfying feeding your hens something which they clearly enjoy. HoweverI'm not sure that in the long term it is an affordable means of feeding the chooks so I might have to think of an alternative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I can't get hold of Garvo feeds at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I cant get it either, would like to try but may be good for the purse that I cant. They did have smoked salmon for breakfast thought on sunday But it was their first henniversery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MummyHen Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Have you looked at the suppliers on the Garvo website http://www.garvo.co.uk/ None in my area either i may order some online and see if my girls like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MummyHen Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Margaret Perhaps we should have a hen outing and visit one of the stockists? Brighton or Essex are our nearest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Rachel, sounds like a great idea, only problem if they like it how do we keep the supply up dont want to drive that far every few weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MummyHen Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 True - it would be a trek every few weeks May be we could persuade Frogpool Manor to stock it? I may order some online and see how my girls like it - they love the Wiggly Wigglers but it does go everywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Did ask them last year and I think they did try, but worth asking again especially if there is more demand. Am going on Saturday so will ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Have you looked at the suppliers on the Garvo websitehttp://www.garvo.co.uk/ I have. I have even been in touch with Garvo about it. I put them in touch with a couple of local stockists whom they tried to persuade to take it on, but because they only supply it to the stockists in huge quantities, none of them were in a position to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Egluntyne is right - my local stockist approached them about stocking it too, and they wanted the initial order to be so ginormous that it put her off - after all, it is a relatively unknown quantity in the feed market and she couldn't justify such an outlay on something that she couldn't be sure would sell. My nearest outlet is only 30 mins away, but is only open on weekdays, which isn't much use for me. I can only get hold of it if The Boy comes that way when he visits me, and he doesn't often come up during the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I get mine from Jim Vyse Arks web address http://www.jimvysearks.co.uk tel 01264 356753 He is lovely to deal with & made a lovely little house for our pekins You do have to pay carriage but it's the same rate for up to 20 (I think ) kilos, or 4 bags. Axx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewitall Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Sparkysmum - Jim Vyse Arks is a possibility for me. Can you collect from him or is it mail order only? Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
