chicken pellets

[Ron and Jean]

Hi,
We have some ex-battery hens arriving next weekend and are quite excited. From what I have read layers pellets are the way forward once we have got them off the mash.

Can anyone recommend a good brand?
Thanks
Jean

[Annpan]

Have you been down to your local farm supplies shop? Ours only sells one brand, unless you want to order in the organic brand, at 3 times the price.

Can't remember what our brand is now, but is is the same brand they stock for horse, pig, sheep and cattle feed too.

Our sells for about £8.50 for a 25kg bag, and it lasts our 2 chickens around 3 months (ish)

[Thomzo]

If you know any horsey people in your area, ask them where they get their feed. Very often the same place will sell poultry feed as well. The chances are, however, that you will be stuck with one brand. I think they are all much of a muchness. There is a farm near here that mills its own and they are the cheapest in the area. I also pay about £8ish for 25kg but there is a place near me that charges over 3x that

I give mine a mixture of pellets and mash. It takes them longer to eat the mash out of the hopper but the pellets are good for scattering over the floor. I find it's really helpful to chuck a few pellets on the floor of their run whenever you go near. It trains them to come running to you and helps when you want to get them to go to bed at night.

Have fun with your new family.
Zoe

[Ron and Jean]

Thanks,
I will head to the farm shop tomorrow and see what they have.
jean

[Millymollymandy]

In France you can buy poultry food from garden centres, DIY stores, agricultural supply stores and supermarkets! The supermarket is (as always) the cheapest!

(but there ain't no such thing as mash here, only pellets)