I agree with Graham here. Most of us not only have limited grass ranging for our hens, but also keep at least some modern hybrid breeds for their excellent egg production. These breeds have been developed comparatively recently, originally for commercial production, and modern pelleted feeds have evolved with the nutritional needs of these birds in mind, whilst also doing well for purebred layers. I would hope to give my hybrids a much fuller life than they would get in a poultry farm, with plenty of space and opportunities to forage in the garden, but this doesn't mean that it would be a good idea to reject the developments in feeds which are tailored to their needs. What was the right way to feed hens 50 years ago, under very different conditions and with birds bred to be less productive, isn't necessarily the best way for everyone nowadays.
The question of price is important, of course, though less so for those of us with just a handful of hens being kept as pets which produce excellent eggs, rather than in any hope of cutting even, let alone making a profit out of them. A big problem for me if I tried the all-grain diet would be the difficulty of storing several bags of different grains and finding the time and strength to be endlessly mixing up feed in the right proportions. I'd rather buy a couple of bags of good-quality pellets and use them up well within date. Combined with a regular worming programme, clean water supplies, suitable well-ventilated housing, and good healthy young stock to start with, in my experience hens are remarkably trouble-free and there's no need to make life more difficult with mixing fancy recipes, adding vitamin supplements or other potions, or giving anything but a simple basic diet and as much access to grass as can be managed.
The question of price is important, of course, though less so for those of us with just a handful of hens being kept as pets which produce excellent eggs, rather than in any hope of cutting even, let alone making a profit out of them. A big problem for me if I tried the all-grain diet would be the difficulty of storing several bags of different grains and finding the time and strength to be endlessly mixing up feed in the right proportions. I'd rather buy a couple of bags of good-quality pellets and use them up well within date. Combined with a regular worming programme, clean water supplies, suitable well-ventilated housing, and good healthy young stock to start with, in my experience hens are remarkably trouble-free and there's no need to make life more difficult with mixing fancy recipes, adding vitamin supplements or other potions, or giving anything but a simple basic diet and as much access to grass as can be managed.
