Bramble Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Hi everyone. I'm coming to the end of my ex-batt crumbs which I bought with my new girls two weeks ago - would I be better to start gradually introducing them to pellets or is it ok for them to stay on crumbs? Also, should they stay on ex-batt food forever, or move on to something else - I really don't mind what I buy as long as it's what's best for them. Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 That's a good question, I have to say I'm not sure and hopefully someone with a lot of experience of keeping ex batts will know the answer. When we got our hens nearly 4wks ago I bought some layers mash from a local farm and they seemed to like that. However when I spoke to someone at the BHWT they recommended I buy the ex batts crumbs as they have added supplements that are beneficial to ex batts, but they didn't say whether to keep giving them that forever. I now have so many bags of food I get mixed up I have just finished the layers mash and am glad to not be using that now as the hens just seem to chuck it out of the grub onto the floor. They seem to love the crumbs and I am now mixing it with some pellets I got from the local farm and now also the ex batts pellets and they seem fine with that. I also mix in a bit of poultry spice as I was told that was good for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 Thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is confused!! I don't like the look of mash either, it looks like dust, but they seem to do very well on the crumbs and there's no mess/waste with it at all. I'm very tempted to just leave them on it, but not sure if it's meant as a temporary food just while they "recover"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Swapped mine onto ex-batts pellets after about 4 weeks. Gradually did it. They still get a bowl of crumb porridge mixed with limestone flour & seaweed every morning. Would love to know if your supposed to go onto general pellets or do they keep on ex-batt food. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 mine like their mash, it does look odd but they seem to be OK with it, it seems to keep them busy for longer, I tried layers pellets but most of it ended up on the floor, I dont think it really matters much, what ever your girls like. Im not sure about the ex bats crumbs, I think they are made to build then up after coming out of the batterys but Im sure someone with more experiance will be along soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amc Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I got ex-batts some years ago, before ex-batt tailor made feed was thought of, - we started with mixing mash in with normal layers pellets and weaned them onto pellets that way - which was the only advice at the time, and I have to say it worked extremely well, easy if you have other hens as the layers pellets are fine for all, and if you want to add your own poultry spice and extras you cans. They were quite happy and laid beautifully for years - and my ex-batts came from one of the worst batches they had even seen. So with that experience, I am slightly cynical of paying extra coz it says for ex-batts on the packaging!! There's nothing you can't add yourself & they manage pellets just fine if you start with mixing - I love the idea of seaweed - wish I lived by the sea!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I swear by the Allen and Paige ex-bat pellets for all my lot not just the ex-bats. It costs me £9.95 but 50p goes to BHWT. I bought one 4.5 kg bag of their crumbs for the ex-bats then swopped them gradually to the pellets. They love them - in fact they now LOVE all food. When I got them they were terrified of treats, but I get mobbed now, everytime I go in their area as they think EVERYTHING is food -even my clothes! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 Thanks everyone! I initially bought two 5kg bags of the crumb, which I now realise cost the same as a 20kg bag of the same stuff, hence I am thinking of buying 20kg this time (useful too 'cos I have to do about a 40mile round trip to get it) but didn't want to buy a huge bag of crumbs if they ought to be on pellets or a huge bag of pellets if they're not going to eat them!! Decisions decisions. £9.95 still seems quite cheap for 20kg (hell of a lot cheaper than same quantity of dog food!) but can well imagine I might not feel the same if I had more than three chucks! So far it looks as though a 5kg bag is going to last about two weeks, does that sound about right for three hens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 About right. I have 11 and get through 20Kg every 2-3 weeks. Add in the aubiose, treats etc and my eggs are definitely gold-plated ! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 There's no reason you can't keep your girls on the ex batts crumbs forever. I still feed it to mine 10 months on from rescue and they still love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hens@HalfMoonLane Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I think you can feed them either but it is advisable to keep them on one or the other. Mine happily eat either but I prefer pellets just from the point of view that they don't spill it as much. When ever I get any new ones and get the crumbs in the older ones go mad for them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I fed ex bat pellets when I first got my two ex bats but no one seemed to like it much, I now feed Smallholder layers pellets and everyone seems happy on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share Posted July 31, 2010 Thanks everyone, they seem v happy on crumbs so think I'll stick with those for a bit longer. Have decided to buy a big bag so hope that's not tempting fate?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THF Nick Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Our ex-bats lasted about 2-3 days on crumbs. They were far more interested in what the other girls where eating, shunned their mash and started eating pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
