When you start your chicks you begin by feeding them crumble, but as they grow switching them to pellets can be beneficial because pellets are less wasteful. Watch and learn as we explain why we use crumble or pellets when feeding chickens.

Hi, I'm Jennie from North 40 Outfitters. And I'm here to talk to you about the feed and care of your chickens.

This is just really a personal preference. A lot of people will feed the pellets simply because there's less waste. Chickens like to scratch around in their feed so the crumbles tend to get wasted a lot more easily than the pellets do. Chicks have been eating crumbles since the day they were hatched, so if you're going to use pellets, we want to switch them over gradually to the pellets. A good way to do that is to mix layer crumbles with the pellets when they're about 20 weeks old. You'll be able to either feed straight crumbles or if you want to switch them to pellets at that point in time, mix the next batch of feed was half crumbles and half pellets and that will transition them over to a different type of feed. And that will switch them over to a different formulation from the crumble to the pellet.

Looking for nutritious feed? Shop chicken feed and treats HERE.

If you're going to go ahead and feed crumbles I would suggest using hanging feeders because chickens can't get in there and scratch the feed out quite as bad and that saves a lot on waste and expense on your chicken feed.

Thanks for joining us for the chicken videos. If you have any more questions about your chickens, please stop in, in any of our North 40 locations or visit us at North40.com.

Want to learn more? Discover more tips on raising chickens HERE.