mixing food am a

[fil76]

I am a big beliver of the first feed in the morning being pure pellet & a mix of pellets corn
sunflower/wildbird at night or can I feed the mix 2 times a day (birds don't free range)
cheers

 

[GC-Raptor]

My hens have access to layers pellets, and water 24/7 in their coop.
I open the coop at 5am and turn on the lights and they go to the feeder immediately. I also give them mixed seed scattered in their pen. I also scatter seed at 9am. That's it for treats.
I let them out to free range, late afternoon. They get plenty of grass, weeds, bugs and worms 8 months of the year, less so during winter.
You could grow fodder for your chickens, since they don't free range. Wheat seems to be the most popular.
I don't mix seeds, corn or scratch grains with the layers feed, chickens will pick out the treats and leave the feed for last.
Nutritionally complete feed is important to keep chickens healthy and maximize egg production. GC

 

[fil76]

so I am better feeding pellets instead of mixing
cheers fil

 

[centrarchid]

If you are using pellets formulated / designed for hens laying eggs, then you may be diluting protein and possibly calcium levels more than you want. I do the mixing as described during winter months when low temperatures promote increased food intake. Care taken so the base diet (pellets) are consumed at same rate despite consumption of the grains. The grains are valued more for meeting the increased energy demands.

 

[Folly's place]

I feed Flock Raiser all year, and don't alter the feed seasonally. In winter they eat more feed because there's very little out on the frozen ground. I feed a bit of a scratch mix a few times each week, and limited kitchen scraps. Mary