[Bodger]

It doesn't do to ascribe human characteristics and feelings to chickens, mainly because they havent got them, but having said that, how would you feel if you were fed the same old boring food day after day ?

I feed my chickens as varied a diet as possible, partly because of the afore mentioned reason but mainly so that they get the protein and vitamins that help to make them healthy and active.

This is what I put into my main mix for the chickens. This  doesn't take into acount the seasonal extras and tit bits that I feed them though.
I mix the following in one of the big blue plastic barrels that you see around. Two bags of wheat, to one bag of layers or growers pellets and then comes the secret ingredient. :shock: I mix in a rather expensive bag of pigeon racing corn. The pigeon food abounds with all sorts of goodies for the chickens and incudes things like maple and tick beans,cracked corn and goodness knows what else but it looks a really good mixture. Racing pigeons expend a lot of energy when they are flying and the protein level in the pigeon mix is high. This counteracts the comparative low level in the wheat.
I realise that this is a large amount of food for anyone who keeps three or four chickens but you can obviously ajust the quantitys accordingly.

Extras.
My birds get fed on a good quality soaked dogfood once a week. This is to get the protein level up again and is especially useful when they are in moult. At this time, I also add a few spoonfulls of corn oil into the mix.

As mentioned by someone else, I also feed raisins to my chickens from time to time. Other than at Christmas Cake making time they are dirt cheap in the supermarkets.
I feed my chickens loads of windfall apples when they are available as well.
I've mentioned this before, but I also feed soaked rolled peas to my growing stock in particular. The peas again are high in protein and have the benifit of beiing very attractive to the birds, especially if you have some that are reluctant to feed.

This is how I do it and there are of course lots of other permutations for you to try.

In my rush to jot this down, I've  missed out what I consider the most important food stuff that you can give to a chicken and thats got to be fresh grass and the wild food it catches whilst running on it.

I hope this may prove helpful.

[Aunt Sally]

What lucky chickens you have Bodger  :!:   I'm glad to see no table scraps in there

As you said, noit difficult for a large flock but not so easy for two back yard hens.  Havng said that I try to give them some variety.  

Hattie is getting extra protein at the moment in the form of cat food as she is moulting heavily, I have to give it to her in the kitchen to prevent Emily scoffing the lot  :roll: They get quite a few worms too when I go to the allotment.  Fresh green is vital (kale is their favourite at the moment), and Munty's favourite corn on-the-cob hung up for them is not only good for them but keeps them entertained.

[Bodger]

Don't forget the catterpillars of your cabages

[Aunt Sally]

Do you know Bodger, I've had the best Hosters ever in my garden since getting chickens