Cat tails Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 My girls are about 18 to 19 weeks right now and till now have been on a chick mix of Garvo. It is mixed pellets with some grain and stuff mixed in. But I'm running out of this feed so should get some more this weekend. When I top their feed up, they normally immediately dive in to get to the good bits and mostly ignore the pellets. I'm slightly worried that when I put them on layers pellets, they won't eat them.... Has this ever been a problem with anyone? Or am I just worrying too much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Certainly has been a problem and constantly is Cat Tails. Chickens will hold out for the good stuff. They have the intelligence and willpower for self-restraint. Some of ours starve themselves waiting for grain treats, so they can stuff more in. When they have had it they will top-up with pellets. Chickens will normally be reluctant to eat new food anyway, so if they starve for a bit don't worry. We take ours off rearing/growers and onto layers pellets the day the first lays. But any time after 18 weeks is fine. Garvo is good quality food, so if you can get their layers? Avoid any pellet feed with grain mixed in and avoid putting any grain, even accidentally, in with the pellets. They will dig all of it out looking for one piece of corn! Mixed grain is best as a small treat scattered on the floor well away from the feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 Thanks Beantree! I just bought 2 kg of pellets from a local animal feed store, who sell it per kg. Just to see how it goes. I will go on holiday in a few weeks time and they will be in boarding and get layer pellets there as well. Didn't want to buy a whole bag of pellets that would just sit there for three weeks. Still have a bit of the chick feed, so I think I'll finish that first. I normally scatter a handful of mixed corn beneath my pear tree. So they can scratch around in the loose, dry dirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I would take some of the feed they are used to for them when boarding. It's just one less thing different for them and makes for a slightly less stressful event. Unless the place uses the same food as you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 I asked, but they feed an ordinary layer pellet. Nothing fancy. It's a petting farm, with loads of chickens. That's why I thought to put them on layer pellets before they go, so they don't also have the shock of not having there fancy food, with corn and grain mixed in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Just took out their old food and will give them only pellets tomorrow. Next three days they will have very limited free ranging time, as I won't be home till late every evening. I'm hoping that the confinement might encourage them a bit to eat the pellets. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 The sad looks on their faces! And the disappointed clucks! Horrible... Hope I can resist it and not spoil them with tastier food. They are now digging around in their Grub to see if it is actually what they think it is... Only pellets! Normally all three immediately dig in and squabble over who gets to go first. Now they are just giving the Grub the stink eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
