I have eight, free-range, laying hens. We are currently feeding them laying mash but I'm wondering if that is necessary since they are free-range. What do feed your free-range hens? Would it be okay to switch to a "scratch mix" with just whole grains? We will start giving them whey soon, too.
I feed an all-in-one, I think similar to flock raiser?, from my local grange. I offer oyster shell when I think about it, or if I notice a problem with shells. All my eggshells go back to the girls, as do all our food scraps the dogs don't eat first. My flock free ranged for several years, I just cooped them this last fall. I did notice an increase in my feed bill, so they had been getting a lot of food from free ranging. Course, they also had all they could eat horse poo!
I feed mine layer pellets, IMO they need that for better nutrition. Scratch is only for a treat around here and only in the colder months. If your going through a lot of feed try switching to pellets -less waste.
