Kalmbach ORGANIC Henhouse Reserve - what's in those green pellets??!!!

[CogitoChickens]

In my area of Ohio, the only 2 good and readily available organic/Non NGO/non soy layer feeds are New Country Organics (NCO - expensive!) and the slightly less costly Kalmbach Organic Henhouse Reserve (only avail in a mash). Kalmbach's feed is organic, non-NGO, and has no soy in it, like NCO's product. However, the Kalmbach feed has mixed in the mash these green pellets which my flock universally will not eat. See pic for what I consistently find at the feeder. This pic was taken early, before the feed had been out for the flock for too long; the pile is often 3 times larger by the time I get around to checking after chores. The only thing I've found I can do is a) spend the time to pelletize the feed, which they will then eat; or b) lock the feeder up, sweep the green pellets into the yard and let the flock get hungry enough so they will start to eat them. I can't believe my hens are the only ones who are reacting this way. Before I call Kalmbach about this, has anyone else experienced this with their organic feed? If others are having this happen with their hens I can make a more convincing argument with the company that there's something in those durn green pellets they need to change! I also would like to continue saving $15/bag over the NCO feed. Many thanks, F. Adelman Lazy Bee Farm, Midland, OH

 

[nuthatched]

What's the ingredient label say?

 

[CogitoChickens]

The pellets are but one component of a mash. Hard to discern what is in the pellets themselves. I'm actually on hold with the company to (again) try to figure out what's in them that might explain why my entire flock hates them. Last time I called they just kept me on hold forever. Appears that's happening again....

 

[CogitoChickens]

In my area of Ohio, the only 2 good and readily available organic/Non NGO/non soy layer feeds are New Country Organics (NCO - expensive!) and the slightly less costly Kalmbach Organic Henhouse Reserve (only avail in a mash). Kalmbach's feed is organic, non-NGO, and has no soy in it, like NCO's product. However, the Kalmbach feed has mixed in the mash these green pellets which my flock universally will not eat. See pic for what I consistently find at the feeder. This pic was taken early, before the feed had been out for the flock for too long; the pile is often 3 times larger by the time I get around to checking after chores. The only thing I've found I can do is a) spend the time to pelletize the feed, which they will then eat; or b) lock the feeder up, sweep the green pellets into the yard and let the flock get hungry enough so they will start to eat them. I can't believe my hens are the only ones who are reacting this way. Before I call Kalmbach about this, has anyone else experienced this with their organic feed? If others are having this happen with their hens I can make a more convincing argument with the company that there's something in those durn green pellets they need to change! I also would like to continue saving $15/bag over the NCO feed. Many thanks, F. Adelman Lazy Bee Farm, Midland, OH

03/06/2024 Update, for anyone that's interested. Kalmbach does not track customer feedback. Isn't that swell? So I might be one of a score of customers who have had the same experience with this product and called the company (which I did) but it doesn't matter, because they basically are institutionally deaf to us. Very frustrating, but I figure I'll work thru the bags I have and go back to NCO. Only way I can be organic, non GMO and non soy.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Interesting as I feed the regular Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve and have seen no issues with consumption. In fact, my chickens scarf it up like I would a homemade pound cake.

 

[CogitoChickens]

Leads me to suspect one or two very bad actors in the flock who are doing the digging. Though the rest of the flock clearly doesn't want to touch the piles of green pellets once out of the feeder. Piles there right now, so I have to sweep them into the yard proper and close the feeder so they'll be eaten. Pain in the you know what. Kalmbach says the pellets contain some pea powder and "added nutrients". Thanks for the feedback.

 

[ChaosMom]

I’ve read all sorts of complaints about the pellets on reviews that otherwise LOVE the various Henhouse products. The Kalmbach answer person always writes that you have to tough it out and eventually, the chickens will cave in, which is pretty non-helpful.

I wonder if fermenting would break down the pellets enough so that when everything is stirred up, they get spread throughout and this eaten. Only useful if you’re up for fermenting, of course.

 

[nuthatched]

The pellets are but one component of a mash. Hard to discern what is in the pellets themselves. I'm actually on hold with the company to (again) try to figure out what's in them that might explain why my entire flock hates them. Last time I called they just kept me on hold forever. Appears that's happening again....

It's like the vitamins, feed like that is intended to be served damp or fermented.

 

[CogitoChickens]

I’ve read all sorts of complaints about the pellets on reviews that otherwise LOVE the various Henhouse products. The Kalmbach answer person always writes that you have to tough it out and eventually, the chickens will cave in, which is pretty non-helpful.

I wonder if fermenting would break down the pellets enough so that when everything is stirred up, they get spread throughout and this eaten. Only useful if you’re up for fermenting, of course.

Thanks for getting back to me. Last night I was watching the hens feed on New Country Organics pellets in the feeder and saw that as they went about it pellets were flying everywhere, not from scratching with their feet but just from the process of eating with their beaks. I then recalled that when I got this treadle feeder years ago it came with a piece that looked like big hardware cloth - stainless steel with the holes about 1" square - that would fit on top of the feed tray. That earlier flock had no problems eating out of the feeder, with little mess, so I ditched it many moons ago. NOW I realize what it was for, as it would make it more difficult for hens to scatter feed as they had to eat from within the little squares! Guess my current generation are just messy durn eaters. So i rigged up a substitute with chicken wire to see what difference it will make. Thanks again for replying.

 

[FrostRanger]

It's like the vitamins, feed like that is intended to be served damp or fermented.

This. If you don't make a wet mash or ferment mashes you have the issue you're having where birds are picking through the feed to eat only the bits they like best and aren't getting all the nutrients in the feed. I suspect the pellets are indeed the vitamins that have to be added