Layer Pellets vs Crumbles
Same formulation, different physical form. Which wastes less, which suits bantams, and what changes about selective feeding.
The short version
Nutritionally these are usually the same feed pressed differently, so choose on waste and on your birds. Pellets waste less, because a hen picks up a whole pellet rather than flicking a beakful of fine crumble onto the floor, and they stay cleaner in a feeder. Crumbles suit bantams, young pullets moving onto layer feed, and older hens who find pellets awkward. A whole grain mash or a mix with visible ingredients is the format to be careful with, because hens sort it and eat the grain, leaving the balanced portion behind.
At a glance
| Purina Layena Pellets Layer Feed, 50 lb | Purina Layena Crumbles Layer Feed, 50 lb | |
|---|---|---|
| Feed waste | Low | Higher, fines get flicked out |
| Suits bantams and small breeds | Sometimes awkward | Yes |
| Suits standard hens | Yes | Yes |
| Selective feeding possible | No | Minimal |
| Keeps in the feeder | Well | Fines settle at the bottom |
| Nutritional difference | None meaningful | None meaningful |
Choose the Purina Layena Pellets Layer Feed, 50 lb if…
Choose pellets for a standard flock and you will get through less feed for the same intake, simply because less ends up on the floor. Feed from a feeder with a lip that discourages billing out, hung at back height. If you are switching from crumble, mix over a week, since hens are conservative about new food and a flock that goes off feed for a couple of days can drop production.
Check Purina Layena Pellets Layer Feed, 50 lb on Amazon
Choose the Purina Layena Crumbles Layer Feed, 50 lb if…
Choose crumbles for bantams, for pullets transitioning onto layer feed, and for a mixed flock where some birds struggle with pellet size. They are easier to eat and easier to mix supplements into. Accept slightly more waste, and empty the fines out of the feeder occasionally rather than letting them cake at the bottom, where they go stale and can grow mould.
Check Purina Layena Crumbles Layer Feed, 50 lb on Amazon
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is mash better than pellets or crumbles?
Mash takes longer to eat, which some keepers value as an occupation, and it can be fermented. The drawback is selective feeding: a mash with visible whole grains lets hens pick out what they like and leave the balanced remainder, which unbalances the diet over time. A uniform fine mash avoids that. For most backyard keepers, pellets are the simplest way to make sure each bird eats the whole formulation.
How long does chicken feed keep?
Generally a few weeks to a couple of months from milling, and less in heat and humidity. Vitamins degrade with time and fats go rancid. Buy quantities you will use within about a month, store in a sealed metal bin away from damp and rodents, and check the mill date on the bag rather than the sell by date. Never feed anything mouldy: mycotoxins can kill birds.
Can all my birds eat layer feed?
Laying hens yes. Cockerels, growing pullets and hens taking a break from laying are all better on a lower calcium all flock or grower feed with oyster shell offered free choice, because sustained high calcium intake in a bird that is not laying stresses the kidneys. In a mixed flock, all flock feed plus separate oyster shell is the simplest arrangement that works for everyone.
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