Mrs_B Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I am trying to decide if I should change from Garvo Layers Mash to the Garvo Layers Pellets. My reason is because the girls chuck so much out of their Grubs after I fill them that sometimes if it is very wet weather the food can become clogged up in the woodchip (my runs are covered, but the rain has been so hard and consistent recently that it gets into the run and can get muddy - I also find the Eglu run can get very wet despite having covers). I thought pellets might help because it isn't 'dusty' like mash and may also discourage the chickens to push it out of their Grubs? Do you think switching to pellets will help? Or will raking the wood chip every few days remain the answer? I have used some liquid disinfectant (Virkon) recently as I did find some clumps covered with mould beneath the top layer of wood chip, so I want to avoid this as much as I can. My access to the part of the wooden coop run is done via the top of the run by lifting up the top panel, so I lean in and place the Grub/Glug on its stand down onto the floor, which I can't reach (so picking up clumps can be difficult for me even with a spade as I suffer from difficult mobility due to an ME type condition). Hope that makes sense!! Thanks all! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psicorman Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Hi, I would suggest going to pellets when you can as its easier and you tend to not have as much waste as you would do with Mash. Ive also found hanging the feeds helps with them not wasting much and just in case there is a big bowl underneath to catch what they do chuck around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 Thank you, psicorman! I think switching to pellets is worth a go. I don't think my chickens are very fussy (well as long as it is Garvo, they have never 'complained'). I've tried hanging feeders before (I have loads of 'spare' feeders/drinkers in my potting shed that I have tried out ) but the chickens kick so much wood chip into them that the Glug and Grub has been the answer to that solution, as I was otherwise changing the drinker several times a day and that was too difficult for me (due to my health issues!) and I was always worried they didn't have enough access to the food/drink. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 I switched the girls onto pellets as the mash seems so dusty and just gets everywhere. Had to do it gradually though as the first morning I just put pellets in (same food different shape so didn't expect problem) and there was outrage! They spent ages sticking heads in grubs and then removing and looking confused, there was also much chattering amongst them and finally they all started chasing Annette having clearly decided it was her fault. Hastily mixed in some mash and calm was restored - funny creatures! They'll try anything when they are FR but change from garvo mash to pellets and they throw a tantrum! All happy now though and eating the pellets in preference. Only other things I would say is two of them had ridiculous crops the first couple of days on pellets - think they got overexcited with quantity, was worried they had impacted crops! Also does the mash/time taken to eat help with your pecking? Might as well try a bag of pellets and see how you get on? Still trying to work out whether to get mash or pellets when I move to layers (think the bags of each of growers I have will last til then if I keep mixing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 We started chicken-keeping in April this year, foolishly assuming it was spring and fine weather would follow We soon had soggy woodchip and soggy pellets mashed into it... Our solution has been to place a paving slab in the run under the grub and one under the glug. They have to be swept/s"Ooops, word censored!"ed off when we clean out, but with rain covers over the top the ground under the glug is no longer a swamp and less food is wasted as they can pick it up off the hard surface under the feeder. The chooks do seem to bring out one's cunning ingenuity, don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Pellets will definitely help, but grubs are useless at holding any amount of any type of feed; I have a gravity feeder hung from the roof of the run... brilliant! Just hang it level with the chickens' backs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Hi, there, I had exactly the same problem. My hens are completely fussy when it comes to feed but eat anything around the garden! Mash is all they will eat, so I overcame the mess by laying slabs where they eat which I can sweep quickly with an old dustpan and brush which I keep in the run. Keeping on top of it is the only answer I find I'm afraid. I have found a local saw mill which were happy to give me a key to the sawdust shed which has been a God send. Whenever it gets a bit muddy I chuck loads down and it works a treat. Its worth looking about, maybe there is something like that near you? Hope you have some luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 I am definitely changing to pellets - thanks everyone. I'm pretty upset this morning because we were faced with a giant RAT My worst nightmare. Hopefully the pellets will help so mash isn't on the floor where I can't reach it... Arrrghhh! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Yuck!, The only rodents we have had are field mice, and I hadn't the heart to chase it away!!!! Good luck with the pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 If you have rats around then it's best to take the feed in at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Or get a cat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Will be putting the food in at night from now on, thank you, Dogmother We've also had the odd mouse, which I didn't mind...but I ordered some humane mouse traps this weekend and will release them into a field when we catch one. My family are out today and are gong to buy a rat trap and poison. I am not taking any chances - my baby nephew loves to play in the garden as well as our elderly cat (who wouldn't even go for a mouse, she is too lazy!) Have discovered the rat has dug a hole under our summer house. I have no idea how as it is concrete, but there is only one hole and you can hear it digging around I did have a conrete slab in the wooden run which the Glug and Grub was sat on, but we took the slab out to clean it this weekend as it got so wet the mash was stuck in a big clump on the stone - that was what the rat was eating when we spotted it We have just cleared up the wood chip which the chooks end up chucking out of their run so things are a bit tidier around the coops and runs. Fingers crossed the rat problem will be sorted quickly!! Thanks again! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 The thing to remember is that you won't just have one rat - he will have friends... lots of them. I'd call the council if I were you and get some baited boxes laid; they can be secured against other animals and children. Best get it sorted before any neighbours complain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Have you tried one of these ... I have four hybrids who eat voraciously, and at the end of the day there isn't a fragment of mash on the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Mine had one of those; they used to stand on the rungs and poo on the food If they leave any food on the floor then I just take the feeder out until they've cleared up the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 You must have a bunch of little acrobats Mine have tried that, but they are too big and tumble off ... Are your hens small breeds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Sort of; they are pure breed bantams but they vary in size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
