auntielizzie Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 What does everyone else do with leftover pellets at the end of the day? I have been removing mine from the run at night (mainly to try and discourage the mouse which has been visiting although it's not working!) and throwing it away as I am not sure if they need it to be totally fresh every day. Just wondered as I don't want to waste it if it's not necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 i leave mine but only feed a certain amout and dont fill up till all gone i get the odd mouse but as long as they outside not to bothered.plenty of cats about!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I take my feeders in every night but I don't throw any leftover pellets away, I just top the feeders up a little the next morning. They usually manage to just about empty them most days though as I've got better at estimating their appetites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I take any left over food in when I shut up my chooks. Next morning I tip the grub backwards, add a little new stuff and then tip it back again so that the new stuff goes to the bottom. Someone on here gave me that tip and it seems to work rather well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 Actually today was the first day that there was not even one pellet left over! I think it is a case of getting used to how much they need each day. Added to this, I did over-do the treats during the first few days I got them (I have had them for one week today!) in my enthusiasm. I realised on day 5 that things were getting out of hand - two very vocal and demanding chickens (would not eat their pellets on Saturday) - so I've toughened up a bit and now only give them treats when I get home from work (by which time they are "starving"!). I have a Sussex Star and a Columbian Blacktail. Both are very sweet. The Sussex Star (Bessie) is a bit more nervous although more vocal. Betty is a bit cocky! Always first to explore new things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I leave mine in the WIR, mind in saying that I have never had mice in the run.... The girls eat any mice in the garden first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I leave mine in the WIR, mind in saying that I have never had mice in the run.... The girls eat any mice in the garden first Really?! One of mine stared at a frog yesterday, crouched down, and pecked it!!! It hopped away and she chased it! It was horrible, but I went and picked her up and let the frog hop away.. Would never have thought they would do that! But I suppose in the wild they would have to? Oh, and I leave their food out in the WIR until it nearly all goes then re-fill it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 My Wyandotte bantie Sage, is partial to the odd shrew, these are our cats left overs. Sage has a good go but I do try and take them off her if I get the chance. I have caught her with a shrew pursued buy a long line of hens all after a shrew snack. My three grubs stay outside and are refilled at the weekend, my cats are great mousers and I have no vermin problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I leave mine in the WIR, mind in saying that I have never had mice in the run.... The girls eat any mice in the garden first Really?! One of mine stared at a frog yesterday, crouched down, and pecked it!!! It hopped away and she chased it! It was horrible, but I went and picked her up and let the frog hop away.. Would never have thought they would do that! But I suppose in the wild they would have to? Oh, and I leave their food out in the WIR until it nearly all goes then re-fill it. Yep frogs are a delicious treat too In fact, I have recently convinced a Jewish friend that chicken isn't kosher Apparently to be kosher birds can not prey on other animals, I showed him pictures of my girls with shrews, mice etc.... He's emailed his Rabi for advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 In fact, I have recently convinced a Jewish friend that chicken isn't kosher Apparently to be kosher birds can not prey on other animals, I showed him pictures of my girls with shrews, mice etc.... He's emailed his Rabi for advice Oh dear, what an interesting dilemma to have caused Space Chick! I'm not Jewish but would be interested to know what the answer is to this, I'm just curious about these things. Incidentally, mine are also partial to the odd mouse and fledgling sparrow. A chicken's instinct to hunt must be so strong, my girls are all ex batts and my first thought when I saw them running round the garden with a mouse dangling from their beak (after the initial surprise!) was 'how on earth did they know that was edible??!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumfychuck Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Do they catch the mice or find dropped from cat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Mine hunt 'em down and catch 'em - I don't have a cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 I am not sure if it is a mouse who is visiting. Whatever it is seems to be nocturnal and it is digging under the run presumably to get at any s"Ooops, word censored!"s of food left in the run. The tracks it makes are quite small. It has also dug a tunnel in to my composting bin. Any ideas? I will be moving the run shortly when I will be putting slabs all round the bottom edges for it to stand on, which I hope will eliminate this problem, but in the meantime I am wondering what is going on. I would have thought mice (and indeed rats) would visit both day and night. Ideas anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 My girlies are currently penned in an area with the compost bins during the day. They love to pull up the carpet on the tops and have a good rootle about. I often used to find little mouse-runs through the grass clippings but that seems to have stopped! Can only assume that the mice are afraid of the girls or providing a light snack! I don't take the Grub in at night as I don't close the Eglu door so they can get up for breakfast when they like. However, I do close the Eglu run so they are predator-safe and I hope that would also keep rats out. Have never seen rodent sign so far.... . The main thieves of the pellets are the robin and the blackbird who wait for me to open up in the morning - the girls don't seem to mind sharing at all! I try to run the pellets down every two weeks so I can give it a wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
