You can mix it or leave it seperate. If it is the latter, they may not bother with it as much and just stick to the pellets bowl. Mine is all mixed together in a blue barrel. I do not add other bags until it is totally empty to ensure it is all used and does not go out of date. The mix I use for my hens is about:
65% Pellets
25% Mixed Corn
10% Grit
I also throw in some handfuls of mixed corn on its own from time to time.
Mash or pellets is personal preference. With mash it needs to be mixed with water, warm in winter. Mash apparently takes the birds longer to eat, so lasts longer in the food tray. (Does not look so to me when you watch them eat it).
In winter I reduced the dried food by about 30% and made up the difference with warm mash as a treat. My OH and family members took the mick a bit saying I was too sentimental. This was not so. It was a case of looking after my investment and ensuring I still got a good production of eggs in the cold spell. ;)
