I choose to dismiss all commercial feeds.
I create my own. The resultant feed is better quality, fresher, and, excepting one element (organic corn), not more expensive, or not much more so.
I buy human grade whole grains separately, Rice, organic Wheats, Barley and Corn - Organic Corn only to avoid GMO - and Rolled Oats all in 25# bags. I then offer these both separately (with supplements) and mixed. I spend less or equal on many grains per pound than I had on prepared feed from farmstore, (which in our area is pricey). And it is not stale (whole grains keep far better than when ground or broken). Examples: c$12 for 25 # whole brown rice...c$18 for 25# most ORGANIC wheats. $15/25# bob red mill oats. ($22 when we choose organic) ... it's the organic corn which is expensive. ...but I adamantly refuse conventional corn! I suggest others consider this idea...higher quality for equal cost or tad more and avoid the GMOs. We provide additional elements to diet of course. Especially fresh greens.
I coarsely grind in small batches Wheats (mostly hard white and some soft white -less gluten- and hard red winter), Barley, and Organic corn; mix these with a few sunflower seeds, a few flax seeds, and sometimes a dash of sesame; (sometimes some Millet), add powdered oyster and granular kelp and true salt (type rich in minerals). Also I serve raw brown rice whole (unground) separately(in a separate feeder, and amended with oyster kelp and salt & maybe flax). Also I cook white rice (occasionally barley) with oyster and salt and serve this once or twice a week - Why? because the powdered oystershell is fully absorbed when cooked in, ensuring they get much calcium (whereas in dry mix much oysterpowder sifts to bottom becomes wasted) (I also offer stand alone crushed oyster shell bits-we live on a bay which is full of commercial oyster beds). Coarse rolled oats (with salt and oyster and kelp) are offered in a third feeder (where the ducks share with chickens).
Additionally, we scavenge greens - culls from local co-op produce dept. and such - mostly organic. (We are blessed to have much organic produce in our progressive community) and we cut/mow a wide variety of wild greens from our creek side and field (and allow access to lawns, creekside and such as well as let them run the veggie garden patches after our harvest for turnip tops etc etc. LOTS of fresh greens. and a wide variety. I watch for what they select and what ignore and adjust accordingly. It surprises me how few greens so many folks feed their fowl. They all gooble them up greedily...(especially important for ducks am told). Fresh berries too in season from our huckleberry and blueberry bushes and including FUSCHIA berries!. ...and when I have no other source rich in antioxidants I offer them a small bowl of tomato paste. They get small amounts of fresh fruit and or rinds from our table. They get a scant few scraps from table and treats of suet, meat tidbits, and milk products, even egg occasionally, in small deliberate measure. They have access to free range so bugs, slugs, snails comprise an important protein element of diet. They obtain plenty protein this way.
They prefer the rice ultimately so they choose to eat less corn. I offered Corn, Rice, and Wheats, (and barley) after reading that generally speaking Brits feed Wheat, USA feed corn and Asians feed rice to their chickens. Many recommend Oats in diet of ducks, so since I have ducks there are oats and the chickens choose to eat those too. (And so do I BTW. ... reputedly Bobs Redmill embarrassed the Scottish in their oats tasting competition by winning first place, heh heh.) I'll mention this, only since one chicken owner I know just did not understand even this: grits (coarse sand small gravels) are /(must be) always available.
A note on the ducks vs chickens: Ducks get far more snails and slugs and worms than do chickens, and chickens get the dairy products (cheese yoghurt, milks of cow/goat), and meat/suet bits but not the ducks. Also my ducks care little for berries and fickle with fruits.
I also switched from conventional feeders to candy/apothecary jars (the type which ope to the side at angle) to feed my fowl: Why? virtually no spillage with chickens. They stick their heads in and might dash grains about but no wasteful spills result (other than some from ducks as spilled from their bills after they withdraw). I set them higher than rats can reach and in front of perches (for chickens), under rain roof.
There be not one perfect recipe, say I, and what is in your area available should influence your choices and ratios. From what I've read my girls high protein diet might be a contributing factor to their phenomenal egg production ...and superb taste. (BTW duck eggs are rich, no off flavor, and are great eating even minutes after laid.) Also I extend light only slightly and only in mid winter...only slightly. not more than an hour longer than actual day length. still eggs eggs eggs. However I do ïndulge them by this 'cush': when temp drops below 40F I break the chill with a small infared lamp - this on this hypothesis that, although unnecessary for fair health or survival, the lack of cold stress might be conducive to more egg laying.
Another point to enhance egg production is I believe, I strongly suspect, is bird's contentment. I endeavor to keep my birds active and amused, not bored and never too crowded. Variety of places to roam and changes to environment, and places to scratch productively (that render bugs).
I may be new at this, but our results have been splendid. The birds are gentle trusting happy healthy, bring us joy, and their eggs over plenty and delicious.
~bawkbawkbawkbawkBaaaawk!
Ruarc
