elmwood
New member
Hi,
This is our first winter with the girls. Recently, On another post I stated that we had changed them to Garvo Pellets and Alfamix. This was over three weeks ago- http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2711
They are still not eating very well. We have given up totally on the pellets. The Alfamix fares a little better, but at £7+ for 4KG it will prove to be far too expensive and I am throwing more than they are eating. So despite all the rave reviews about Garvo, and the fact it looks scrummy, smells delicious and is clearly a quality mix my girls are not interested.
What concerns me is that their crops at bedtime are flat as pancakes? Surely at this time of year, they should be storing up as much as possible. Our top hen is still laying, every other day. She stuffs herself silly- as she always has. The other four just seem to be going into some sort of hibernation mode. Also they are mostly coming out of their moult, which has really taken its toll on each girl in different ways.
In the morning I mixed the pellets with warm water to tempt them, but they didn't even take a peek. Later gave them a handful of grated cheese, which they devoured. Later again, mealworms which they gobbled up. Daily they have a handful of corn an hour before bedtime and it seems even this has lost its appeal. BUT give them a bowl of readybrek and there is no stopping them. Their water is always substituted with something- vitamins, garlic, ACV. As a rule they have the Alfamix only in their feeder. The extras yesterday were because I was so concerned about them actually surviving this artic weather......
They all appear well in every other respect- a little lethargic BUT no obvious respiratory signs, drinking normally etc.... Just had a new house which they have taken to, so no nasties. I recently sprayed them all with Frontline, and they were wormed with Flubenvet before the cold set in. They are no longer free-ranging, out of choice given the weather conditions..... and not much available.
Can anyone PLEASE suggest anything and tell me if this is NORMAL??
19
This is our first winter with the girls. Recently, On another post I stated that we had changed them to Garvo Pellets and Alfamix. This was over three weeks ago- http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2711
They are still not eating very well. We have given up totally on the pellets. The Alfamix fares a little better, but at £7+ for 4KG it will prove to be far too expensive and I am throwing more than they are eating. So despite all the rave reviews about Garvo, and the fact it looks scrummy, smells delicious and is clearly a quality mix my girls are not interested.
What concerns me is that their crops at bedtime are flat as pancakes? Surely at this time of year, they should be storing up as much as possible. Our top hen is still laying, every other day. She stuffs herself silly- as she always has. The other four just seem to be going into some sort of hibernation mode. Also they are mostly coming out of their moult, which has really taken its toll on each girl in different ways.
In the morning I mixed the pellets with warm water to tempt them, but they didn't even take a peek. Later gave them a handful of grated cheese, which they devoured. Later again, mealworms which they gobbled up. Daily they have a handful of corn an hour before bedtime and it seems even this has lost its appeal. BUT give them a bowl of readybrek and there is no stopping them. Their water is always substituted with something- vitamins, garlic, ACV. As a rule they have the Alfamix only in their feeder. The extras yesterday were because I was so concerned about them actually surviving this artic weather......
They all appear well in every other respect- a little lethargic BUT no obvious respiratory signs, drinking normally etc.... Just had a new house which they have taken to, so no nasties. I recently sprayed them all with Frontline, and they were wormed with Flubenvet before the cold set in. They are no longer free-ranging, out of choice given the weather conditions..... and not much available.
Can anyone PLEASE suggest anything and tell me if this is NORMAL??
19
