Switching from crumble to pellets...and other questions...

[DiYMama540]

Hey all! First, a little about my flock- we have 4 Hens (2 California white and 2 golden comet I think....) 2 Ducks (1 khaki Campbell drake 1 fawn&white runner female) and last but certainly not least, a female grey pomeranian goose. All of which are free run from about 7am to 9pm.

My last bag of feed is almost gone, I believe it was a Dumor Grower crumble. My TSC and Rural King all have a lot more options in pellet form, but I've been hesitant to make the switch just because I wasn't sure if they had to be a certain age for pellets. Or if there was any sort of introduction process for that??

They've all been on crumble since they were babies. Granted, they don't eat much of their food...I guess they get full from wandering around the yard eating bugs and grass and what not??

Everyone here is approximately 4mos. old give or take a couple weeks. No egg production from anyone yet, however the ducks are starting to make love in their pool, could eggs be on the way soon??

Should I scatter some grit around for the chickens? My yard is full of rocks and pebbles ...lots of clay!!

Need some veteran guidance...still new at this, but have found so much information on this site!! THANK YOU!!!!

 

[Fishsticks06]

Hey all! First, a little about my flock- we have 4 Hens (2 California white and 2 golden comet I think....) 2 Ducks (1 khaki Campbell drake 1 fawn&white runner female) and last but certainly not least, a female grey pomeranian goose. All of which are free run from about 7am to 9pm.

My last bag of feed is almost gone, I believe it was a Dumor Grower crumble. My TSC and Rural King all have a lot more options in pellet form, but I've been hesitant to make the switch just because I wasn't sure if they had to be a certain age for pellets. Or if there was any sort of introduction process for that??

They've all been on crumble since they were babies. Granted, they don't eat much of their food...I guess they get full from wandering around the yard eating bugs and grass and what not??

Everyone here is approximately 4mos. old give or take a couple weeks. No egg production from anyone yet, however the ducks are starting to make love in their pool, could eggs be on the way soon??

Should I scatter some grit around for the chickens? My yard is full of rocks and pebbles ...lots of clay!!

Need some veteran guidance...still new at this, but have found so much information on this site!! THANK YOU!!!!

Hello, I would be glad to answer as many questions as possible. Though I haven’t been in bird caring for many years, I can try to answer questions. You should be able to transition feed easily. At least form my experience, my birds aren’t picky eaters. Well this is for chickens or course, I’ve never had waterfowl. If your drake is beginning to mount your female, I would just say those could be hormone surges. Egg laying should start to begin shortly anyways for your female duck. I hope I helped! If anyone finds the need to correct me, please do. I’m also willing to learn more as well.

 

[DiYMama540]

 

[rosemarythyme]

If the crumble and pellets are exact same formulation (i.e. both all flock, both have same % of protein, calcium, etc) then there's no issue if you want to switch them over - crumbles are just broken up pellets. If the pellets are different (i.e. layer vs all flock) then they're not substitutes for one another and you'll need to wait until the birds are laying, if switching to layer, for example.

 

[Alaskan]

If the crumble and pellets are exact same formulation (i.e. both all flock, both have same % of protein, calcium, etc) then there's no issue if you want to switch them over - crumbles are just broken up pellets. If the pellets are different (i.e. layer vs all flock) then they're not substitutes for one another and you'll need to wait until the birds are laying, if switching to layer, for example.

X2

I am a bit worried about your single goose.... they do much better in pairs or flocks.

 

[DiYMama540]

X2

I am a bit worried about your single goose.... they do much better in pairs or flocks.

What should I watch for? She seems to enjoy hanging with the ducks and bossing them around. Never noticed any aggression at all towards the other birds except occasionally nipping at the chickens for hanging around the pool.

 

[Helloworld]

Start by mixing half and half. Purina makes omega plus in red bag and pellets are small and added calcium. Remember, waterfowl can’t have medicated and pose a risk to chickens regarding salmonella. I raise geese. One goose is a pet. We keep ours far away from chickens. Some don’t. Geese don’t need to be wormed or treated like a chicken would.

 

[DiYMama540]

Start by mixing half and half. Purina makes omega plus in red bag and pellets are small and added calcium. Remember, waterfowl can’t have medicated and pose a risk to chickens regarding salmonella. I raise geese. One goose is a pet. We keep ours far away from chickens. Some don’t. Geese don’t need to be wormed or treated like a chicken would.

Yes the goose is absolutely a pet! So in love with my "pretty bird"

 

[Alaskan]

What should I watch for? She seems to enjoy hanging with the ducks and bossing them around. Never noticed any aggression at all towards the other birds except occasionally nipping at the chickens for hanging around the pool.

Geese tend to be much happier with one of their own.

 

[AmyJane725]

Like others have said, if the foods are the same composition (just pellet vs crumble) switching should be pretty easy. If you're picking a new food do it as follows:

Week 1: 1/4 New Food to 3/4 Old Food
Week 2: 1/2 New Food to 1/2 Old Food
Week 3: 3/4 New Food to 1/4 Old Food
Week 4: 4/4 New Food

Never hurts to have a separate grit container available just in case. It's only a few dollars and well worth it if it prevents crop/digestion issues.

I would personally suggest switching to an All Flock feed and offering oyster shells in a separate container. If your drake and hens (when they get too old to lay eventually) eat a food intended for laying hens the extra calcium can cause kidney damage and death.

One last thing, keep a very close eye on your drake and make sure he's only mating with the ducks. If he mates a chicken he can kill her.