Shelley Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I just need some breakfast tips from you chicken chefs out there. My chucks are simply not interested in pellets; I've tried two brands of growers and am now on some garvo pellets, but they just don't like them. And before you say it, I've also tried tough love...locking them up with just the pellets to eat. Yes they'll eat some, but they;re not filling up on them. I've tried just masihing them up with boiling water but they still turn their noses up. But I can see that they are hungry just by the way they fall on any s"Ooops, word censored!"s. So given that they need the nutirents from the pellets which can I add to them to make them more interesting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 You could try layers mash (Mash is a dry feed thats different in texture than pellets) You could also try Wiggly Wigglers mash with bran in The trouble with feeding mash is that there is more waste and its messy as the chooks dig through it so a good feeder is needed to stop them turfing bits out on to the floor! Beyond trying mash I wouldnt go down other routes, wet feed sours quickly and is a pain to deal with as is mixing up feed - there is a storage issue too Personally I would do the tough love - chickens dont think in the same way as humans and while they may prefer to hold out for treats they dont have the mentality to go hungry longer term rather than eat so I would leave them to it if I was you. Garvo contains less 'filling' than most other feeds so chickens naturally eat less of it, they also wont eat a lot if they arent laying - they honestly wont starve themselves but they will play you for treats and s"Ooops, word censored!"s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Personally I would do the tough love - chickens dont think in the same way as humans and while they may prefer to hold out for treats they dont have the mentality to go hungry longer term rather than eat so I would leave them to it if I was you. Garvo contains less 'filling' than most other feeds so chickens naturally eat less of it, they also wont eat a lot if they arent laying - they honestly wont starve themselves but they will play you for treats and s"Ooops, word censored!"s I completely agree with Redwing. My chooks eat layers pellets and the brand depends on what I can get at the time. They get some corn in the afternoon. They don't have anything else unless I am feeling generous enough to buy mealworms. If they don't like what I give them well tough on them! It always gets eaten in the end. Don't worry. I'm sure they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Are they laying? They generally eat more if they are laying. When they stop for the winter they often slow down on the amount they eat. You may be expecting them to eat more then they actually need. But I agree with everyone else, they won't starve themselves to death so I'd carry on with the pellets and the tough love. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinedon Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 very informative post thanks. My 4 hardly eat. in a whle week they dont empty a full GRUB but they have never layed yet and are fed Garvo and also once a week they have a cabbage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sezra Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I don't have any experience of pellets, mine eat layers mash and lots of it! We have a hanging gravity feeder and a grub and thankfully don't find either messy. It might be worth a try. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 thanks because our chickens arent eating much pellets either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted October 31, 2010 Author Share Posted October 31, 2010 ...they also wont eat a lot if they arent laying - they honestly wont starve themselves but they will play you for treats and s"Ooops, word censored!"s Thanks for the reassurance. They are still laying beautifully; I just can't bear the constant stalking they do when I'm in the garden with them. I left them locked in their run this morning with just pellets for company and they made such a noise demanding to be let out I had to succumb. They know precisely where the corn is kept and so the four of them made a beeline for it, almost demanding to be fed. Yes, of course I relented!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 They have you sussed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sezra Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Ooooh Cheeky chickens! Be strong, ignore them and walk away! I am no expert but I was amazed how quickly mine sussed out where the treats were kept. I made them go cold turkey on corn, meal worms etc for a week because they were scaring the children everytime they gave them treats! Go on, you can do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I had a battle with my chooks trying to get them to eat layers pellets... but I won eventually!! I was worried they would starve etc but after about 3 weeks they started eating the pellets with no problem. They did try it on though! I do admit to swapping brands though...so if anyone wants 15Kg of organic pellets which they hated they are sitting in my feed bin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Chickens aren't as daft as people think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
