[pawsnclaws]

is layers mash the same as layers meal i got some yesterday do i just feed it dry it is very.................................. powdery!!

[Roughlee Handled]

same thing.  Er why are you feeding mash/meal? 

Mix with a little water is what I did.  Be careful and clean the old unwanted mash out everyday as old damp feed (the bugs inside) can cause problems.

If these are ex batts then you move them on to layer pellets over a couple of weeks.

[pawsnclaws]

thanks Roughlee yes i am getting my first chickens on Sunday 4 ex bats will get some pics when they come  i am going to the feed shop again tomorrow so will get some pellets then too

[andreadon]

yes, that's right - ex-batts will be used to mash.

It's very messy, though.
Make sure to start with that the bowl you use is very deep and nail/screw it to a post or the table
I highlight this in bold, because the first lesson we learned when we got our ex-batts is that they stand on it and tip it over! (they're not used to it, you see) - also, even when screwed on, ours would stand on the edge of it and it would get pooed in - so we put some chicken wire hanging over the edge, in a kind of hood (high enough for the chooks to get their heads in) up and over.  I'll try to put a pic on to show you what i mean...
it prevented them from standing on the edge and meant much less cleaning 

be aware that it will take them them time to start on pellets because most batts have their beaks trimmed back and find it very hard to pick up big pieces of food.  It took ours a few weeks before they could manage large bits.

[GrannieAnnie]

When we got our first ex batts from the Lincoln co-ordinator John gunner, he said put them straight on to pellets, I do.  So we do, can't be faffed with messy mash/meal! 

Surpising how quickly they get used to it!

[Hawkins]

even after 3 months, mine wont eat the pellets.

They just love the mash and yes there is a lot of wasteage.

good luck

[andreadon]

When we got our first ex batts from the Lincoln co-ordinator John gunner, he said put them straight on to pellets, I do.  So we do, can't be faffed with messy mash/meal! 

Surpising how quickly they get used to it!

lucky you Grannie! I wish it had been that simple with ours!
We bought a small bag of pellets to try them and they just couldn't pick them up.
They tried, we tried, but no luck!
so we kept them on the mash.
But now they can handle big food, even massive chunks!
It's just a matter of time

[Tattyanne456]

I was advised mash for my chickens when we got them, but they did make a mess. I bought a small bag of loose pellets to try them, and it appeared that they turfed all the mash out to get at the pellets! So I now only buy pellets. I think I read somewhere that the mash prevents boredom, because it takes the chooks longer to eat it, and they have to work harder for the food(?) I also had a problem with them tipping bowls over, so I bought hanging food and drink containers.

[Sue33]

I've just put my four onto pellets, they weren't too keen yesterday but this morning they were wolfing it down