Stay away from buggy feed. In addition to eating the grain themselves, the insects are a sign of AGE. Old food may also contain molds and fungus that can cause respiratory problems along with a whole batch of other issues.
As to a proper ratio of Scratch to crumble, well I got a stern dressing down by some old timers who came to visit. Fat Chickens are not necesarily healthy chickens, and actually lay less eggs. Free range chickens will run around all day with full bulging crops, but will still run and beg from you the provider of 'goodies'. Mix scratch with a nutritionally balanced food, and they will pick out the stuff they like and leave the rest behind as waste, or cleverly scratch it under the bedding so you think they ate it and give them more! (and people say chickens are stupid)
I was doing the same thing you are, I drew satisfaction from seeing them come running and attack the feed. If they didnt go right for it, it must not be good enuff.
Well, now I fill thier feeders at NIGHT after they have gone to roost, then when they get up in the mornings they fill them selves with the nutrious crumbles. When I release them to free range for the day, they go tearing off in search of bugs and exercise like they are starving, but I see those bulging crops and empty feeders. I am not suckered any more!
Later in the day I go out with the household scraps from the day before, and with some scratch. This is my quality time with them. My egg count is UP even tho it is fall, my birds are not wasting all the feed they used to so my feed costs are down! and when my Old Timer guests come, well, now I have some 'Good lookin birds'!
Try it , you might be surprised! Good Luck!
