Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[auntielizzie]

I only have four chickens and yet they get through a tremendous amount of food - most of which it seems ends up on the floor getting wasted! The problem is, I give them a mixture of mash and pellets in two grubs (with added grit). The girls are mad for the mash and spend their time s"Ooops, word censored!"ing the food out of the grubs to get at the mash rather than the pellets and on to the floor! We then end up with a "crust" of wasted food all over the run floor which I have to keep "chipping off". (I was wondering why the floor seemed to be rising and then realised what was happening!).

 

I have now decided to put the mash in a separate hanging gravity feeder and the pellets into one grub. The problem is (you won't believe this!) that they are eating the mash and leaving the pellets now. It is difficult to add grit to the mash in the gravity feeder as it seems to block the bottom so that the food can't get out BUT I'm thinking that if I only put grit in the grub with the pellets, then they will still only eat the mash and won't be getting enough grit, resulting in soft shells.

 

My only other option is to wean them off the mash I suppose, unless anyone has any other ideas?

 

Thank you for reading.

[good_egg]

My girls get pellets with alfamix mixed in, cos they were being too selective with their mash. I only put out enough each day so that I get a little bit left and they don't throw any out and eat both that way. If its good layers mash you are feeding they shouldn't need the grit for calcium and will select what they need for digestion. I would say stick with the mash if its layers and they like and put some oystershell grit in a galleypot so they can have what they want. That's where my grit is and it works fine.

[Luvachicken]

I have galley pots too. One for crushed egg shells and one for grit. They just help themselves when they want to.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Put a separate (like D Cup) fir the grit and oyster shell, they will take what they need. Have you seen the omlet grit feeder? I have pigeon ones, and Hubby made them into hanging ones. there is no mess when they have to put their heads inside ti eat, also harder for one to guard from another.

how about grinding the pellets and mixing with the mash if you really want them to have the pellets, or at least to use them up?

[Redwing]

I agree - use a separate cup for the grit

 

Or use the grub for the grit and put the original mix in the gravity feeder, then hang this at a height level with the hens necks so they can get their legs nowhere near the feed. If you use the grub for feed then place that high too

 

Most feed waste is down to a low feeder. Feed will last longer and get less bedding in if it's higher up

 

If you don't want to do this then remove the feeder every few days so they have to clear the spilled stuff. Alsoaybe reconsider the use of both mash and pellets, perhaps pellets alone would make for less fussy eating

[Lavenders_Blue]

I am not surprised your hens are eating the mash and leaving the pellets. Most hens prefer mash to pellets! So your options are either feed mash or feed pellets but probably don't bother with both, as you have found they will tend to pick out the mash and leave the pellets. I agree with those who say use a separate grit pot, I do this too and the girls just help themselves as and when they need it.