Hi Susieanna. Standard layers pellets sold generally at a farmers store contain three permitted chemical colourants for the yolks. If you don't mind them and GM feedstuffs the stuff you get will be fine. Unfortunately to get the colourants taken out and replaced with natural substances and for non-GM feed you have to pay about 50% more a bag. Free ranging provides the colourants anyway which are really grass and maize (sweetcorn). We use Smallholder layers pellets. Other best brands are Garvo. Dobson and Horrell, Marriages and others I'm sure. The feeds you buy are aimed at layers confined to runs. If they free ranged all the time on sufficient area you would need only mixed corn and a source of calcium, like the grit they need. The protein would come from insects. Avoid too much maize as it contains a lot of oil which makes chickens fat. Fat chickens don't lay but they will run it off by free ranging.
We are like you. Ours free range over a large area part-time. They get layers in the morning, a small mixed corn treat mid-afternoon and whatever they find in the Orchard, they top-up with layers before they go to bed. Have to admit some of the piggy Orpingtons are a bit fat! All the rest are fine and laying well.
