Pellets v's wheat?

johs · **Posted:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:51 pm

Hi All,

Any advice on whether either of these options are preferable to the other. I feed veggie scraps and they have shell grit available. They also free range all day.

The girls have a definite preference for the wheat, just wanted to make sure it was okay to stop feeding pellets too.

thanks,

Jo

Roova · **Posted:** Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:02 am

The problem is, poultry are a bit like us and will eat what they like the taste of first! It doesn't necessarily mean it is good for them. Wheat is particulary high in carbohydrates which is only part of their required diet.

Pellets have been designed to be nutritionally balanced for whatever stage or age, the bird is at, eg chickens, growers and then layers. The protein and nutrient level changes in these feeds to give maximum support to what is happening in the chook at the time. Laying an eggs for example uses a massive amount of protein. The presumption though is pellets are 100% of the feed because the manufacturers can't take into account the feeding of scraps when working out percentages.

Personally I don't think wheat and scraps alone are enough to provide what your chooks need. It also depends on the area you're chooks are freeranging in. Will they exhaust eating bugs, worms etc for extra nutrients because they're going over and over the same ground?

If you're going to trial it, I would suggest taking weights of your chooks (presuming they are all adults) before you stop the pellets and carefully monitor it. If you see weights are dropping off or egg production or health is down then this is a warning sign.

This is an excerpt from this website: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps033
Nutrients are the chemical substances found in feed materials that can be used, and are necessary, for the maintenance, growth, production and health of animals. The nutrient needs of poultry are rather complex and vary with the species, breed, age and sex of the bird. More than 40 specific chemical compounds or elements are nutrients that need to be present in the diet to support life, growth and reproduction. The materials are often divided into six classifications according to their function and chemical nature: water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. For good health and performance, a diet must contain all of these known nutrients in the proper amounts. If any are insufficient, then growth, reproduction, eggshell quality, egg production, egg size, etc., may be reduced.

Good luck either way

Thomo · **Joined:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:14 pm **Posts:** 1

I don't know if this helps but I use both but the wheat is more a 3 times a week treat and not given everyday

johs · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:00 am

Thanks Guys,

Roova, I had a look at the article, lots of info there. I think I will go back to the pellets. The Girls won't be happy but they'll get over it eventually. I have two groups of birds one lot 9 weeks old (they get grow chick and whatever they can scrounge off the older girls) and the older girls are 15 months.

They have about 300sq meters to roam in, now there are more of them there is probably less bugs to go round. They will still get the veggie scraps at least once a week and maybe a special wheat treat a couple of times a week.

They did seem to eat less when they were on the pellets. Although I have had a large infestation of doves and sparrows that have started eating the food, a month or so before I started with the wheat. In the process of building an automated feeder to stop this. Let's hope it works. Stupid doves go in the chicken door to the run and can't find their way out.

Thanks for the advice.

cheers,

Jo

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:26 am

Pellets should be their main meal and yes give them some wheat as well. I use quiet a bit of soaked wheat for my ducks and the chooks especialy if it sprouts

johs · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:06 pm

Thanks 2_Drakes.

I haven't tried sprouted wheat. Will give that a go too.

Jo

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