Layer pellets

Don't really think I've got room for 100 chickens! Unless I move out and they move in I suppose! Apart from that I haven't got anywhere to store feed in half ton bags or any other size bag. Only got a plastic dustbin in the garden shed for the 20kgs of pellets!!! On a more serious note, I would be happy to spend the time making up the feed myself if it was better for my hens and I wouldn't even mind if it was a bit more expensive. My problem is sourcing the ingredients down in this part of the world. Even though it is a farming county, there is a distinct lack of suppliers. I could try and find a farmer who would be willing to sell me smaller quantities I suppose, but wouldn't know where to start. I do think this is something I will look into though as I'm sure the hens would be more enthusiastic about eating it, more than boring pellets!
 
If you can afford it, one answer is Garvo Alfamix Chickens (see http://www.garvo.co.uk/, go to Hobby Poultry section and scan down the page below Alfamix Chicks to Alfamix Chickens.) I give my quail Alfamix Chicks, and both this and the Chickens mix are a lovely mixture of mini=pellets and different sorts of seeds and little cephalopods( sort of shrimpy things.) The hens go mad for it, though as it's expensive I mix it 50-50 with Garvo layers pellets in their winter mash. also excellent for people looking for something to mix up as the basis for 'wormer treat mixture.'
 
Thanks for that Marigold, I like the look of that. I will see if I can get some locally and find out if my hens like it. I'm sure they will, it looks good to me! Worth the extra if they eat it.
 
I don't know whether extra protein is harmlful but I think it can't be good to give a body more than it needs of anything. It is a bit more expensive to feed layers rations but the difference in price between them and a bag of mixed corn isn't much. My way of feeding is not that different to Castle Farm though I do feed some pellets to the really high yielders. When people are new to keeping livestock they obviously want to do right by them and expect fromulae to work from but 'stockmanship' allows you to duck & dive and experiment and change course if necessary. Some people are natural stockmen, some achieve it by practice and experience, some unfortunately never do and will always need help and they will always have more problems.
The mixed corn + barley(rolled) though other forms of barley such as cooked flaked would do. I saw some barley which had just been delivered to the feed merchants the other day and thought I might try some. Very few hens have access to rolling acres of grassland but it's surprising how much they can find in a garden with the addition of a bit of greens.
Low and moderate egg layers don't need a high protein diet, especially as so many people feed so many extras. Excess food will either be deposited on the body or exceted putting more work on organs such as kidneys.
 
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