Layers Mash. How to feed?

[marge2]

Our chickens don't like to eat the layers pellets. I read somewhere that you should damp down layers mash. Does anyone do this? I also saw some chickens eating a sort of tiny balls feed. No idea what it was, but it seemed easier to get down than the big pellets. Any ideas what it could have been? They were point of lay.

I sometimes mush our pellets with water in a bowl and they like that (generally I do it when I'm adding a bit of read too)
I dont do it because they ont eat pellets...just for variety

I think you can get an in between sort of feed that is crumb sized, possibly from Allen and Page/Smallholders feeds.

A lot of hybrids are reared on layers mash in its dry form, as it takes much longer to eat, so the hens are less likely to fight.

All size chickens can eat pellets (we have seramas which are very small, and eat pellets no problems) and there is less waste from pellets.

If you are happy with mash, you can either feed it dry or you can mix it with water.

If you want your chickens to take pellets, introduce it slowly. They will eventually take it, and it is exactly the same as mash, but they may take a little time getting used to it.

We use mash, and we just put it in the feeders as you would.

they throw it about a lot, so every day, I sweep the scattered bits onto the floor and let them peck about at them.

We have tried introducing pellets many times, and they just won't touch them (they eat around them!).

in winter, you can make a warm porridge kind of mash with hot water. they like that (but it makes their beaks messy!)