No matter if you keep chickens in a backyard coop or urban farm, their needs require high-quality, nutritionally complete poultry food. There are numerous different varieties available such as pellet whole grain mix and crumble.
These complete rations contain all of the grains, protein, vitamins and minerals your flock requires to remain at peak health and productivity. Which option would work best for you?
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Nutritional Benefits
Feeding your flock the appropriate type of feed can have a dramatic effect on their health, growth and egg production. There are various forms of chicken food available to meet their dietary needs – crumbles and pellets are both made up of various grains with vitamins, minerals and proteins added, though their texture and manufacturing processes differ slightly.
Pellets are hard, dense pellets made of grain or wheat-like substance while crumble is more of an oatmeal texture that chickens find easier to consume. As a rule, pellets produce less mess and waste.
Feed your hens only nutritionally complete layer feed to maintain an equilibrium in their diets and avoid obesity, foot abrasions, feather picking and decreased egg production. When giving chickens treats such as worms or table scraps as treats for special occasions or extra flavor, make sure that their consumption doesn’t compromise their nutrition by diluting their nutrition from complete layer feed.
Cost
Although pellets and crumbles may appear similar, their manufacturing processes can result in significant price differences. Pellets typically cost less due to one less step in their manufacturing process and also offer more uniform shapes which tend to result in less mess and waste than crumbles.
Both feeds contain similar essential nutrients designed to promote the health and productivity of laying hens. No matter which variety of chicken feed you choose for your flock, it is crucial that they receive free-choice calcium supplements.
Country Road Layer Crumble Feed is an all-in-one nutritionally complete and balanced layer feed for backyard coops that contains all of the required protein, vitamins, and minerals to support strong egg production. Packaged in an affordable 50 lb. bag, it includes marigold extract and antioxidants to promote bright yellow eggs while probiotics support digestion – this feed makes an ideal addition to any backyard flock!
Storage
Your laying hen feed, whether pellets or crumble, should be stored in an airtight container that’s marked with its opening date for maximum freshness and use later. Check it periodically throughout the year as any stored product could potentially spoil over time.
Pellets are often the go-to option because of their ease and consistency of ingredients in every bite, yet can sometimes be hard to scoop and clean, leading to additional waste. Crumbles use pellets in smaller shapes so as to limit mess and waste production.
Many chickens may prefer crumbles due to being used to them from being raised on chick starter/grower crumbles, so if your flock shows any preference for one or the other consider offering both products to see which they respond better.
Handling
Both pellets and crumble are designed with all of your flock’s nutritional needs in mind; the difference lies in their texture and manufacturing processes. Pellets tend to be hard, uniform pieces of feed that make for easier scooping, cleaning and storage than crumble; furthermore they tend to produce less waste due to their shape.
Crumbles are composed of the same ingredients as pellets, but are broken into smaller particles using a crumbler or crusher to produce crumbles. While this method increases costs and increases moisture and temperature fluctuations, crumbles also tend to provide more consistent nutrient balance, making them easier for birds to consume than pellets.
Many people opt to start their laying hens out on crumble and gradually transition them over to pellets by about 20 weeks of age, giving the birds time to adapt to both texture and consistency of food before switching back over with reduced digestive issues and similar nutritional benefits.
