jess1merlin Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I have been feeding my 4 hybrids with garvo mash for quite a while now and they do look great on it and seem to enjoy it. I have been thinking about changing them onto garvo pellets as I am using a sack of mash every 4 weeks which seems quite a lot for just 4 birds - they do get treats and veggies as well. I was wondering if they are likely to turn their noses up at pellets after having mash or if it would be ok to mix the two for a week or two and then just give them pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 yes mix the pellets in with the mash in increasing ratios then eventually you'll end up with just pellets If they turn their noses up even after a gentle transition let them contemplate the pellets - they wont starve themselves and hopefully will cave before you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Just a thought jess1merlin; are they eating all the mash, or flicking it around? Mine ate a good deal of it, but liked to flick through it, wasting a lot in the run litter. I changed them back to pellets and they don't get through a sack as quickly, but there's less mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I give ours mash, but when the shop had run out I bought pellets instead. They ate the pellets without any issues - I was a bit surprised to be honest - but did as Redwing suggested, and moved them over gradually, although I used to feeders, one with mash and one with pellets. However, as they were able to eat their fill so much quicker in the mornings, they were a lot noisier - at least I think this is what it was. They got bored quicker, as didn't spend so much time eating. I have now gone back to Mash again and peace reigns - well, mostly anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I've gone from pellets to mash...or at least mashed up pellets. My birds just weren't interested in the pellets, but absolutely fell on the pulped down variety last night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I feed both for no other reason than if one runs out, then they're used to the other so I don't have to dash out!! They have mash in their run feeder and pellets scattered outside when they FR in the morning (so they still eat healthy stuff!!) They definitely prefer the mash though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1merlin Posted July 7, 2010 Author Share Posted July 7, 2010 They don't seem too keen on the pellets! Have mixed it with the mash and they pick out every s"Ooops, word censored!" of mash and leave the pellets in the grub. Should I try giving them just pellets and seeing if they cave in or should I take the easier option and go back to giving them mash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Mad Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I've tried mine with pellets and failed miserably! I wouldn't bother again. Yes they are quite messy with it, but the little wild birds seem to appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Mine eat both although I feed mash most of the time because it keeps them busy for a lot longer and stops them getting bored which results in them doing things which bored chickens do Every now and again I scatter a few pellets around for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Sometimes I think they just don't like the taste of a particular brand. I bought a bag of layers mash and a bag of layers pellets from a local farm and although they have been eating the mash, for the most part they are just slinging it around. When I got a bag of the ex batts crumbs they went mad for it and right now I have a bowl of mash and a bowl of crumbs in the run and all the hens are after the crumbs, even though the mash is supposed to be what they have been used to eating. I think my hens have expensive taste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grb944 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I planned to buy pellets but was advised as my chickens were going to be in the run all day, mash would be better as it keeps them busy..I didn't get much mess as I use the Omet grub feeders which are quite deep. But they didn't eat it..so I brought pellets..but thise don't eat those either. My mistake was not soakingthe mash..I didn't want to do that because I saw it as wasteful and involed lots of cleaning ! Now I kep a omlet grub topped up with pellets and every morning and night I gave my 6 chocks 2 little galley pots filled with soaked mash They eat this quite happily.. So it looks like thats the key..soak the mash..but its more work They do occasionly take a pellet or too..and as I have read here on other topics..they will never stave themselves. If they need it they will eat the pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 My mistake was not soakingthe mash..I didn't want to do that because I saw it as wasteful and involed lots of cleaning ! Now I kep a omlet grub topped up with pellets and every morning and night I gave my 6 chocks 2 little galley pots filled with soaked mash They eat this quite happily.. So it looks like thats the key..soak the mash..but its more work They do occasionly take a pellet or too..and as I have read here on other topics..they will never stave themselves. If they need it they will eat the pellets Ours "demand" wet mash every night, standing at the back door begging! They don't get it though - only a couple of times a week. They get the hint after a while and eat the normal dry mash quite happily, as they do all day. If nothing else, this allows us to go away for a weekend without having to find someone to make up a porridge for them morning and night! (That and I really wouldn't have the time every morning to faff about before work!) Tough Love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1merlin Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share Posted July 9, 2010 Having tried mixing the mash with the pellets the result was that they only picked out the mash so I decided to change to pellets only. The theory being that if they were hungry enough they would eat them - silly me! Since yesterday afternoon they have eaten nothing, their crops are empty and they just seem to throw the pellets around the run. I have bought a whole sack of pellets so I am keen for them to change over. The question is how long can they keep this up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Mad Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Having tried mixing the mash with the pellets the result was that they only picked out the mash so I decided to change to pellets only. The theory being that if they were hungry enough they would eat them - silly me! Since yesterday afternoon they have eaten nothing, their crops are empty and they just seem to throw the pellets around the run.I have bought a whole sack of pellets so I am keen for them to change over. The question is how long can they keep this up Mine were the same! 25kg of pellets that they would not eat for love no money! I got some mash and over the next 3 month made them porridge as a treat out of the pellets. Not everyday so the Madams don't get used to the royalty treatment. Pellets are finally gone (just before the expiry date! ) I know many swear by pellets and our friends girls do enjoy them but I think certain Ladies just would not have them. They eat everything else that they shouldn't do. Gladys dug out old cat poo few month back and all three were fighting for it. She ponged of it for some days. Needless to say we gave away the eggs they layed following week. People were very complimentary of the taste though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Can't get mine to eat pellets for love nor money, although they were both previously fed them... They are happy healthy and lay well on mash, and fortunately I don't have a lot of waste...I'm not fixing what's not broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1merlin Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Have made the pellets into porridge for the last 2 evenings as they have eaten nothing all day and then started to go to roost with empty crops and I didn't think that would do them much good. Seems stupid really that as soon as I add a bit of warm water to the same pellets they decide they are marvellous. Not sure who is winning here, think I will try for another couple of days and then think again. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Mad Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 I was the same, thought tough love will sort it but no. I also might be too soft. They are happy with the mash so I keep them on it from now on. I know what you mean though, A bit of warm water and the uneatable becomes the mosty delicious meal ever. Though thinking about it I would not like to bite into dry weetabix but in a bit of milk oh yes please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1merlin Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 Well I've given up and let them have their own way. Yesterday the eggs seemed to be a lot smaller which I suspect is due to the fact they weren't eating much and the noise they created every time I went out in the garden was driving me mad. It's nice to know who is in charge around here and it doesn't seem to be me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
