Corn or layers pellets are what mine like, and yes straight onto the grass is just fine, although in a feeder will lessen the amount wasted, the embdens I used to have free range just got corn in the evening in the summer, in winter they got as much as they wanted before they went to bed as the grazing is poor in winter so they can loose alot of condition otherwise, also when frosty or snow covered I'd give them as much as they liked in the morning too, they'd mob me when I came out the feed room!!