little chickadee Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Hi - I'm new to this chicken keeping thing. Our new girls are on pellets. Do these contain exactly the same stuff as mash? The mash certainly seems to look more appetising! What are peoples views on the two options? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Hurrah! I'm the first voter. My Chooks have Organic Layers Pellets and Organic mixed corn. Most of our fruit and veg is Supermarket Organic rather than homegrown and they love any of the s"Ooops, word censored!"s we give them. That's just the way things have turned out rather than good planning. I know they dont lay as well if they dont eat all their pellets. The eggs are eggstra tasty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I had read somewhere (probably on here ) that mash keeps them occupied longer so there's less time for anti-social behaviour! I only got my chooks on Friday and they're on Grower's Mash. I hope to eventually get them onto organic Layer's mash but not sure where I'll be able to get it from locally (I haven't looked yet, it could be at my local poultry centre!) Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I only got my chooks on Friday and they're on Grower's Mash. I hope to eventually get them onto organic Layer's mash but not sure where I'll be able to get it from locally (I haven't looked yet, it could be at my local poultry centre!) Jo I think Thornes do Organic Mash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I think Thornes do Organic Mash. Thanks Lisa, I was too excited about getting my chickens on Friday to do anything other than pick up the first sack of Grower's Mash they had there, I didn't want to ask _too_ many questions! If I go organic for the food I'll have to sneak it past hubby - he doesn't really believe in paying a premium for organic! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 forgive me for saying so but that's like saying you don't believe in paying a premium for free range eggs or organic meat- the process by which the food is grown/produced costs more and until more people buy it than not, it will remain more costly. Anyway, we got our organic layers mash from these guys, we also got quite a lot of other things from them too, grit, oyster shell, red mite powder, poultry shield and hemcore. http://www.gjwtitmuss.co.uk/ p.s. the organic is only £3 dearer than the non organic stuff and 20kg should last you a while. pps the hemcore is under the horse bedding section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 forgive me for saying so but that's like saying you don't believe in paying a premium for free range eggs or organic meat- the process by which the food is grown/produced costs more and until more people buy it than not, it will remain more costly. Absolutely, I agree. Hubby however, is (metaphorically) la la laaing to himself when I try to explain why the tiny free range chicken I've bought from the butchers costs £11 as opposed to the monster jumbo £3 supermarket chicken. Good job free range chicken meat tastes so much better than cheapo stuff - it's starting to bring him round! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Just realised I'm probably going to be escorted to the Forum exit for daring to mention _eating_ chicken..... Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 that £3 chicken will be a broiler chicken and i'd rather go without personally than eat one of those poor sad creatures. We buy free range chicken breast meat (not vastly expensive from the supermarket) as organic chicken is way too expensive but we do buy organic beef, lamb and pork as there's a farm near us that rear and slaughter on thier own land and we buy in bulk so get a good deal but even without the deal it compares very favourably to supermarket prices and also tastes far nicer. Shop around a bit and try farmers markets perhaps, anyway, good luck in bringing him round- show him some videos of the dreadful conditions broiler chickens are kept in and go to www.chickenout.tv and sign Hugh's petition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Pellets are so less messy! Mash is good for a poorly chook esp mixed with some warm water and a few treats if they need perking up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I think Thornes do Organic Mash. Thanks Lisa, I was too excited about getting my chickens on Friday to do anything other than pick up the first sack of Grower's Mash they had there, I didn't want to ask _too_ many questions! If I go organic for the food I'll have to sneak it past hubby - he doesn't really believe in paying a premium for organic! Jo Hi - yep Thrones do sell organic mash - however after speaking with them about organic - the guy who does the talks (sorry can't remember his name) - said for the hybrids we got yesterday to keep them on growers for 2 sacks fulls (we've 7 big chickens), then move to layers mash - but normal layers mash as organic could cause them to prolapse (not sure why though). We'd be ok to move them onto organic when they were 30 weeks old - but not before. The chicken guy also recommended mash rather than pellets earlier in the year as it does keep them busier - best advice we ever got - so they;ve been on mash ever since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Thrones do sell organic mash - however after speaking with them about organic - the guy who does the talks (sorry can't remember his name) - said for the hybrids we got yesterday to keep them on growers for 2 sacks fulls (we've 7 big chickens), then move to layers mash - but normal layers mash as organic could cause them to prolapse (not sure why though). We'd be ok to move them onto organic when they were 30 weeks old - but not before. Thanks, that's useful to know. They said for me to use up the sack I bought for my 3 then move to Layers. Which 7 did you go for? I thought you were after 2? Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I voted Mash - but it was my girls that voted with their beaks really - we used to feed them pellets but they both went off them. We were halfway through a bag that was in date and had been properly stored by us (if it gets wet or goes out of date it tastes sour apparently). In a panic, we bought a new bag of pellets from a different farm, and the girls continued to turn their beaks up at them! Back to the farm for some mash - chickeny heaven! We've never looked back and yes, it keeps the girls occupied for hours on end! Admittedly there's more mess (they push it out of the feeder onto the floor and peck it from there ) but a small price to pay in my opinon. Sue x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 we have been using layers pellets since we got ours, but I got some mash from the feed store. only problem is that I dont know what to do with it (no instructions ) do I make it up like porrage? do I have to cook it? help ta cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Which 7 did you go for? I thought you were after 2? Jo I wasn;t quite that bad - we have 3 Ex batts, and came back with 4 hybrids - it as supposed to be 3 but when it came down to it DH was fine - he encourages me more and more so we were lucky to come out with 4 which are: Lola - Cuvee Maran Blanche - Coral Midget - Columbian ??? - Sliver nick - still can't decide on a name... Couperwife - just feed it dry - they spend ages and ages eating it - and it's keeps them occupied - just make sure you've got lots of water - as I (not the chickens) imagine it's a bit dry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 thanks, ill give it a go cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Cooperwife, the user Janty on here showed me how she made up hers by adding hot water, marmite, cod liver oil and poultry spice. I think particularly now the weather is colder its nice to get something warm inside them. Im going to make mine the same, along with some powdered garlic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 I found a recipe for layers mash on the perfect pekins website and I have sort of developed it and adapted it to suit my girls. I started off feeding pellets but now it's cold I feed the girls bokashi layers mash with a teaspoon of marmite, a glug of cod liver oil, a spoonful of chicken spice, warm water and a quarter of a pint of milk. Sometimes I also throw in some sultanas as a special treat. However, I always make sure that their grub has pellets in it but they rarely eat them. The mash seems to hit the spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Just seen the post from CatsCube ... how spooky! Hello CatsCube...glad to see you went with a brahma. What colour is yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-xJuliex- Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 I had read somewhere (probably on here ) that mash keeps them occupied longer so there's less time for anti-social behaviour! I only got my chooks on Friday and they're on Grower's Mash. I hope to eventually get them onto organic Layer's mash but not sure where I'll be able to get it from locally (I haven't looked yet, it could be at my local poultry centre!) Jo Hi Jo, I get my girls organic layers mash from Woodside..not sure how close you are to it but i see you live in bedfordshire, so i thought id let you know... Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
