Overwhelmed with layer feed!

[MybittyFlockof5]

Hiya chicken tenders! So I have a flock with 2 older pullets (around 18 weeks) and 3 laying hens. I’ve had them on Kalmbach flock maker crumbles since I got them. They also get bar ale scratch and encore greens since they don’t free range with an occasional scoop of BSF or mealworms. Now that my pullets are coming up on laying age, I’m considering switching to either henhouse reserve or the omega layer. I’ve read the henhouse they pick out the good stuff but mine are used to getting a small amount of scratch mixed in so I’m not too concerned. My 3 layers lay GREAT. Almost everyday for all 3 so I don’t want to disrupt that. Any and all feed suggestions welcomed!

 

[nuthatched]

Don't mix in the scratch.
Picking and choosing should be a concern since it leads to nutritional unbalance.
Stick with the all flock feed with oyster shells available. Easy peasy.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

And if for whatever reason you don’t want to do the all flock, fermenting or even soaking the Henhouse Reserve is also easy with just five birds. Mine eat everything of the Chickhouse Reserve when fermented. It only takes 24 hours, since I always reserve some from the previous batch as a starter.

 

[Virginiachickens]

Can you explain 'fermented' and what that means?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Can you explain 'fermented' and what that means?

This is the guide that I use. It works best with a whole grain feed like Henhouse Reserve or Scratch & Peck “Mash”. I decided to only do it once the weather cools. It seems to ferment much faster in a warm house, and sometimes the chickens aren’t interested in eating because of the heat, so whatever I put out for them gets nasty FAST!

 

[Altairsky]

Chickens filling up on scratch, in my experience, is a mith. My chickens have 2 feeders, one with homemade mix of seeds and one with all flock or chickstarter, free choice. They eat from both equally and they can self regulate perfectly.
Chickens do fill up on scratch if it's a treat, but if it is always available free choice they know what they need and will self regulate on protein intake.