good_egg Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Hello! I've been feeding omlet feed which I quite like because the bits are quite small and I feel it takes the girls ages to eat. However, I don't think they are eating it with such relish as the pellets and there is always a bit left. Some of this could be because Viv is no longer eating her lions share but I'm not convinced. Dobbies near us sells Garvo so I was going to get some of this but I don't know whether to get mash or pellets. Might be a stupid question, but is the mash just broken down pellets? Also do you need to mix it? I mix some of the omlet food with a bit of yogurt some mornings (most at the moment as I am feeling sorry for my ladies) but not sure I fancy the mess of soggy food all the time.... Eek. Feel I need to spoil them a bit as Viv gone and I'm probably inflicting two new girls on the order at the weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 no, the garvo mash is more like the alfamix crushed, it has bigger bits in it than I have seen in othrr mash, marriages organic, omlet, and (hodgsons and dodall?) (or something like that) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Mash is usually fed dry. You can mix it up into a porridge if you really want to, but it sours very quickly so is best given only as a treat in small quantities. Fed dry it can be left out for the hens to access ad lib as with pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Sadly we have no supplier for Garvo near here, but I always feed mash...it takes longer to eat and gives them something to do so seems to stop arguments amongst themselves...we have great eggs and my girls are touch wood healthy and happy...I would not go back to pellets now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 I had a feeling I was being stupid with the wet thing - something about the name had me convinced though. Was horse food wet when it was mash and I was little? No idea! Thanks for clearing up my idiocy though! Might take a trip to garden centre at weekend then! My OH is concerned that they aren't eating as much because they don't like/can't be bothered with small pieces - assume this is just a reflection on his eating habits!? Thanks for replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Don't worry, you'd be surprised how many people ask the same question about mash! You're probably thinking of bran mash (horses) but think that's a bit old fashioned now - I've certainly never seen anyone feeding it! I'm not sure why but most hens seem to prefer to eat mash to pellets, but I think just feed your hens whatever they are happy with. If they prefer pellets, then that's great but if they prefer mash then there's no reason not to feed that instead. It can be messy as the hens like flinging it all over the place for some reason, but if you can find a feeder that minimizes the mess then I prefer it. As sadietoo says, it takes longer to eat and keeps the hens occupied which I think can only be a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I'm feeding Garvo layers mash but will be swapping back to pellets after the mash has gone. The Garvo mash has different 'stuff' in it and the chickens eat selectively wasting a lot of food. I've used omlet mash before - I liked it, it didn't have range of food for hens to be choosy over. But the P&P charges made it expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Some manufacturers produce a crumb which I prefer. It's fine like mash, but uniform like pellets, so no bits to pick and choose from. Smallholders layers meal is the one I usually buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simondegaris Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 The crumb is actually really good, a local countrywide store near us sells it. Its handy as I think come winter I will be mixing the crumb in to porridge etc to warm the girls up and keep their normal feed up! Handy stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...