Mash - what exactly is it?

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:06 pm

I often read about chooks being fed "mash", and I'm not sure whether this refers to any mashed-up food/leftovers, or is it an actual type of chook food? If it is a type of food, what is it called and can anyone recommend a good brand? Should it be fed wet? If so, do you just add water to it? My 2 year old layer is on Red Hen Free Range Scratch Mix and my 14 week old chickie is on grower food (small pellets). We are having problems getting Pikelet to eat her grower food, she prefers the scratch mix and scraps! I was thinking a mash might be good, easy to add garlic etc., but not sure exactly what mash is!

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:36 pm

Mash is an actual type of chook food, you can get it from your local stockfeed.

Wagners in Coldstream have their Wagner's Own Layers Mash. If you don't live too far out it is well worth the trip there.

http://www.wagnerspoultry.com.au/feed.htm

Red Hen also do a Hi-Lay Mash.

http://www.lauckemills.com.au/poultry-layer2.html

The Free Range Scratch Mix seems much more appetising than chick grower for Pikelet. Just add warm water to the chick grower and top with a little molasses if you want her to eat the grower.

Red Hen also do a Pullet Grower that looks like the Scratch Mix. We have weaned our little ones on to that from the chick crumble as they weren't to keen on the crumbled pullet grower pellets either.
http://www.lauckemills.com.au/poultry-pullet1.html

Hoping your 2 year old layer is not nibbling on the grower as it is medicated as there is normally a 2 week withholding period for egg consumption.

Here is the link to a PDF Laucke Mills Poultry Feed Booklet

http://www.lauckemills.com.au/images/la ... -lores.pdf

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:44 pm

Thanks Hens and Hobbits, we are only 15 minutes from Wagners, both our chookies came from there! To feed the mash, do you wet it or feed it dry? Also, do you get molasses from stockfeed/pet stores or can you buy it from a supermarket?

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:23 pm

Hello, Elle Jay,

The mash from Wagners can be served wet or dry, have a chat with Mrs. Wagner she is always very helpful. Warm mash on a chilly winter's morn goes down well.

The Red Hen Hi-Ly Mash is more like their Free Range mix but with pellets through it. I use it dry. Also use the Barastoc Darling Layer Downs mixed and their Golden Yolk pellets. Depends what's available at the local stockfeed and if we are down the line to shop.

Molasses from the supermarket is found in the health food isle about $4 a jar, you can buy the stock grade molasses from the stockfeed which is not as sweet as the supermarket molasses, depends on the quantity you need. For 2 chooks the supermarket molasses should be fine and you can also use it in your cooking.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 4:01 pm

Thanks again Hens and hobbits! Think I might pop up to Wagners, have a feeling the girls would like warm mash with a little molasses! Would it be okay to wet the mash with soy milk instead of water? Thanks and have a great long weekend! :-D

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 4:30 pm

Elle Jay wrote:

Would it be okay to wet the mash with soy milk instead of water?

Not sure, best ask Mrs. Wagner.

I have given my chooks leftover porridge made with milk last winter for breakfast, they really enjoyed it.

Chook kid · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 5:53 pm

off topic but H &H i always feed my chooks leftover porridge and even home made custard when its left ove they realy love it

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:10 pm

Chook kid,

Is the custard, home made egg custard made from scratch? Not chook scratch, that is.

kwinagi · **Joined:** Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:58 pm **Posts:** 236

mash can refer to a mixture made of bran, pollard etc OR an actual style of manufactured chook feed, which as has already been stated, can be served wet or dry, hot or cold.

mash made of bran can be made with bran flakes, pollard, lucerne chaff, grated carrot and apple, meat meal and powdered skim milk, with the addition of moisture. the chooks go nuts for this.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:25 am

Thanks for the recipe, kwinagi, sounds delicious, I sure the chooks will enjoy it!

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