Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve?

[Miss Cassi chicken coop]

Hello!! My girls love it!! Same! They peck at what they want of course, but I mix it with their crumbles and table scraps as a treat! I feel like it helped their nutrition to lay? But that’s just me?
I’m still learning? But who knows, like anything else, they do what

 

[GG Brit]

I feed Chickhouse Reserve rather than Henhouse, as my girls just never did grow to like the Henhouse. I combine it with Kalmbach 20% Flock Maker to boost the overall protein, moistening and/or fermenting it. Since they're not on designated layer feed, I provide flaked oyster shell on the side and feed them back their eggshells.

Can I ask why you moisten it? TY

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Can I ask why you moisten it? TY

Sure! Unlike the home mixes that many make, the Kalmbach Reserve mixes is mostly grain, peas, some corn and so forth, but they also have “bits”, presumably containing the trace vitamins, minerals, probiotics etc that can be difficult to provide unless chickens have generous access to living forage. (I do “yard range” them, but it’s a very small yard.)

Chickens, being suspicious of nearly everything (except styrofoam, I suppose) frequently ignore these “bits” in favor of the actual grains and all. Moistening them into a stiff porridge consistency makes it difficult for chickens to avoid them, and they are eaten, reducing waste.

I originally started out fermenting them, which increases bioavailability of some of the nutrients, but it got away from me once the weather grew hot, and they became distinctly beery and sour. I might start fermenting again in the cold weather.