Chooks-in-London Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Hi there, can I ask what brand of food everyone buys for their chickens? And do you buy organic? I've had a soft shelled problem with one of my hens for a good few months now so wondering whether the Farmgate organic layer pellets are good enough. Maybe I need to change to non organic. Anyone else use Farmgate organic? Thanks all x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Hi from another London girl - I buy whatever I can get locally. At present its Marriages and in past Hodell and someone?? I dont buy organic as I want to keep costs down - mean I know but dont want my hobby (I always wanted chucks so its a passion) to become too pricey OH is great about it but like anyone we have to watch pennies. Sorry no help to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 PERSONALLY I think the whole organic thing is a load of rubbish to con people into spending more money, but that's just my opinion. I have tried cheap own brand pellets from feed merchants with varying levels of success, but my girls seem to prefer and do best on Marriages layers pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 PERSONALLY I think the whole organic thing is a load of rubbish to con people into spending more money, but that's just my opinion. I totally agree! To each their own I guess, but it is near impossible to produce fully organic eggs in your own garden. Most plants you plant, aren't organic and even if you use only seed to grow plants, it's hard to find fully organic seed. Most of it today is a marketing thing anyway. Organic is the new hype. Mine get cheap own brand pellets from a local feed store. Mainly because I can buy it per kg, so I'm not stuck with an enormous bag of feed with only three little bantams. It would take me months to finish one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 We had a problem with Farmgate pellets years ago. The hens didn't like the taste so stopped eating and laying. Then we switched to another brand and discovered it contained three permitted chemical colourants termed 'yolk enhancers' on the label. Didn't like the idea of eating chemicals in our eggs so we used Smallholder Layers pellets after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Mine are on Garvo. I'm impressed. The eggs are lovely, the hens do seem to poo less and the shells are hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks-in-London Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 Ok thanks all. This is good news, I will switch to a cheaper non organic food. My hens aren't fussy Hello Eggcentric egluowner! Where are you in London? I'm in Streatham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Grief is that me? Eccentric moi - NW - in Mill Hill. Waves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I use haygates no problems i get it from a horse warhouse as so much cheaper than the pet shops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Eve that sounds dangerous to me - I assume you mean warehouse. I had visions of you purchasing your food surrounded by horses in battle gear. Sorry had to giggle - my hands and brain work at different speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks-in-London Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 Eve that sounds dangerous to me - I assume you mean warehouse. I had visions of you purchasing your food surrounded by horses in battle gear. Sorry had to giggle - my hands and brain work at different speeds. Haha me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I use haygates no problems i get it from a horse warhouse as so much cheaper than the pet shops Oh dear, I must need glasses as I read it as warhorse Garvo fan here btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Mine have either Smallholder pellets or the occasional sack of Gablestock co"Ooops, word censored!" mash, which is very like Garvo, only half the price. They don't get the mash often as the retailer is only open on weekdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHawley88 Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 We use Allen & Page layers pellets for our Bantams, and typically when we swapped onto something different, they didn't seem to eat much, so we went back. Our own fault! We also have Countrywides' own layers pellets for our non fussy chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargazer99 Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 My girls have Marriages Layers Pellets. Only because that was what the farm were giving them before I purchased them. They seem to love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 I buy whatever's cheapest - the last lot came from a Mole Valley store that I happened to be passing. I couldn't tell you the make as I tip the sack out into a plastic bin. I used to buy organic at the outset but as others have pointed out, the hens are eating non-organic plants and other stuff, it seemed pointless after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 I buy Smallholders for Bantams ... I don't have Bantams, but my lot definitely seem to prefer the smaller sized pellet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Marriages pellets here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks-in-London Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Mine are on Garvo. I'm impressed. The eggs are lovely, the hens do seem to poo less and the shells are hard. Hello! Can I just say thanks for the Garvo recommendation! I am now receiving lovely hard shelled bright orange yoked tasty eggs. The chickens love it! I wanted to upload a photo but not sure how to do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Fancy feed for my girls, or if I can't get it Allen and Page or Marriages. Doesn't make much difference they only lay when they feel like it anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Yes warehouse my girls love it. I pick veg tops and greens for then to.glad u all had alaugh at mu misspelling x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Tried mine on Dodson and Horell as an emergency. They almost refused it. So, back on Marriages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 D&H is the only thing that my lot will refuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Smallholders or marriages pellets for my ladies. They have a feeder of mash too as that's always a crowd pleaser! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Used to use Garvo, even though it ment a 2 a half hour round trip, then had it delivered from Jim Vyse and he stopped delivering so now its Wiggly Wigglers for my girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...