Unsecure chicken perches

[KateCooke]

I have 4 bantams, two started laying within the last month and i can tell that one is about to start laying. Since getting them in August they have been on layers mash, but last week i changed feed to layers pellets as the mash was making so much mess. I found that they were wasting so much by just taking out the bits they wanted and as i have my eglu on woodchip the mess was really bad.

 

Since moving them onto pellets they do not seem to be touching it, occassionally i see them with thie head in feeder, but they are not there long and the amount hardly goes down.

 

They get out of eglu and into the run at 7.30am, then are in run til approx 10.30am when i let them out into the garden til approx 3pm. To get them back in at 3pm I usually scatter a hand full of mixed corn into their run. They take themselves off to bed at 4.15pm.

 

I am concerned that although they will be getting food from out in the garden, are they getting enough of what they need or should i change back to mash?

As far as treats, they are very fussy, they get an occassional slice of bread between them, or a hand ful of rice or pasta, or sweetcorn, but i limit these to one handful a day.

 

Can you advice me as to whether teh girls are getting what they need?

[ElvisFan]

Don't worry, I though exactly the same thing about my babies, if you have changed their food it might take a while to get used to it but they will, they won't starve themselves just to make a point to you. They are probably getting a lot of stuff out of the garden as they are there most of the day, try letting them out a bit later so they have more time to full up on pellets.

[Mollie333]

They will not stave themselves, they will pick up any yummy things out the garden when free ranging, and then fill themselves up with the extras you give them.

 

If you are worried there not eating the pellets, try mixing it with hot water and making it into a porridge, and just give them that untill its gone, or add garlic powder, mine love that! I think they just need to realise that it is a new food!

[C&T]

I would also consider confining them to the run for a few days, with no treats, so they get used to eating the pellets.

 

They need to eat those as they contain all the goodness they need, and I guess at the moment they are filling up on all sorts of other things! (Think of you eating all the sweets, but none of your greens! If there are no sweets available, then even sprouts can seem quite appealing!)

 

They won't starve - they will get used to them if they have to! And sometimes you need to force the situation... It is for their own good!

[KateCooke]

Oh that feels so mean but I know you are right, they are still laying so obviously happy enough. Will try that today.

And no, it does not matter how starving i was a would not eat sprouts!!!

 

Thanks for advice, i will keep on with the pellets.

 

Kate