Eating habits of my hens.
- Thread starter Mel
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
We had a pullet who refused to change. We ground up rearers pellets for her for a couple of weeks. In France we have found 'year one' rearer pellets which are a half sized version of the real thing. Why can't you get them in England - or not the stores we used anyway? It's a massive change from chick crumb to rearers. We even buy Smallholder which are small pellets anyway. Can't leave them on crumb Mel, the protein level is too high. I don't know how it affects them as I've never experimented, just relied on the manufacturers info. A lot of the cost in feed is the protein, so perhaps extra protein isn't detrimental in any other way than price?
I wonder what you mean by 'crumbles', Mel? do you mean what's usually known as layers mash? I think Chris supposes you have still got them eating chick crumb, which I dont think is very likely. Layers pellets and layers mash is the same stuff, only the pellets are mash compacted into little bits so the hens have to eat everything and not pick out the bits they like and waste the rest. They do need one or the other at their age, so the extrra calcium etc in layers feed will support their egglaying, but it doesnt matter which.
tygrysek75
Member
Organic pellets are half the size of most other brands pellets in UK market.Maybe you could try this.
I mean laying crumbles that are 16% protein. They are not on the "chick starter crumbles".
Also, none of them have lost very many feathers for molting. They slowed down the amount of eggs laid but are now picking back up. But it has not been below 32 degrees in our area but twice. Will the hens start molting again when the weather gets cooler?
Also, none of them have lost very many feathers for molting. They slowed down the amount of eggs laid but are now picking back up. But it has not been below 32 degrees in our area but twice. Will the hens start molting again when the weather gets cooler?
Crumbles = mash = meal and you can leave them on layers indefinitely. Most commercial flocks are fed on meal throughout their lives. It seems a bit more natural (grain like) to feed pellets and it is a little less wasteful but the food value is just the same. If you really want to change to pellets, feed some in a separate feeder and they will undoubtedly start to eat some. If they normally lay well with your routine and feeding, leave well alone.
They seldom lay when in a moult but start again when it's over. At 17 months, they should still have a lot of laying left.
They seldom lay when in a moult but start again when it's over. At 17 months, they should still have a lot of laying left.