Chicken Feed Review: Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve

RSM is trying a new backyard chicken feed and wanted to document the results - this time with the Henhouse Reserve laying pellets by Kalmbach. This is NOT an affiliate video, meaning that RSM paid full price for the products and is under no pressure by the manufacturer. Let's look - do the chickens actually eat it? And how does it help egg production overall?



RSM is not a medical professional.

[sandracrowe]

I have been feeding my 5 Light Brahma hens the Henhouse Reserve for about 3 months now. I purchase Henhouse Reserve at Walmart for only $23 per bag. I get 4-5 eggs per day. At first they will eat only their favorites, but eventually they will eat the other. If that's what they have, they will eat it when they are really hungry and eventually be used to it. I also like to ferment the Henhouse Reserve every now and then.

[marklese]

I like that henhouse reserve....i mix a little scratch and fresh vegetables in with it and before I mix everything I let the feed a scratch soak a few minutes and they love it...yes they go through and pick out the good stuff first but they finish all of it I like a feed that actually smells like food...great video thank you

[stevenbrogdon]

Have you ever fermented your chicken food?? I have very picky hens and when they were fed dry grains (scratch and peck) they would choose the best. I started fermenting the food. They started eating every drop. Plus it cut costs in half feeding them. It’s also more beneficial for your girls. Great food. Ya expensive but u get what you pay for. And with just a few hens it is easy. I have 6.

[janebecerra]

Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve is the only feed my chickens eat. I switched from another brand but it became too far to drive to pick it up.😊

[heavymechanic]

Here is my 2-Cents: I feed Nutrena and its a premium blend compared to other TSC products. The hens prefer the crumble but will eat pellets. Now I mix Nutrena and Producers Pride layer and no issues... I'm planning to switch to Kalmbach 17% sold at a local feed mill, the Flockmaker 20% grower is far better than the Dumor as the chickens eat considerably less and its the same price.. I'm not into the newest or best stuff out there, I just need an affordable feed for my 9+4 layers and 20+ broilers to send to freezer camp every 3-4 months.

[triciajessup]

I have 18 free range hens & a rooster, new to chicken raising. Got tired of chickens tipping feeder & making a mess. I started feeding mine from a big heavy rubber feed bowl & there's almost no wasted food on ground. And they can't tip it over. Only downside is my bowl is so big they walk in it, but oh well! I ferment feed or at least soak it before feeding. That also gives them extra hydration (they aren't guzzling water like they did with dry feed). I've tried several feeds (everything from cheap crumbles to Henhouse Reserve). The soak seems to make whole grains easier to eat, but they still eat the crumbles which turn into "chicken porridge" when soaked. I've found a balance of feed & water that seems to work for my girls without much waste, just have to basically have enough water that food stays below surface. I also throw out scratch, banana peels, leftovers, kefir grains, etc to give them variety. Hope this is helpful to someone!
(2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

[sheridawnhayden]

I pay $18 for the 30# bag of Henhouse Reserve from a local farmer. Buying it on Chewy is ridiculously expensive!

[patwilson]

I have been using Purina layena for quite some time, but refuse to purchase a feed that comes from a Chinese owned company anymore!. I just purchased this hen house reserve from Kalmbach, they love it. We will monitor for the results.

[Victorioushomestead]

Oh they will if you leave it and skip 1 day!! Then fill it up again!
My chicken love it they do eat their favorites 1st but they will come back and get the rest. ❤️

[kenmosely]

We just got some Cornish cross meat chickens and started them on kalmbach chick starter 22percent protein been feeding this to our chicks for a week now and their growing crazy it's amazing so far we got it from a feed store in our area about 23$for 50pounds only a couple dollars more than other brands protein in other brands was only 18percnt

[brendabortels]

I quit using the feed bucket and started using a lg bowl i also wait till its completely gone then i refill my chicks are free range too im on the fence with this stuff too

[joyadams]

That’s why I ferment a cup of this feed to feed them daily.. that way they eat it all

[angelareynolds]

I have the exact same issue with my chickens with kalmbach. They won't eat any of the brown pellets!! I've been looking into other options. They don't like pellets at all. I even bought the full plum kalmbach pellets and they won't eat that either! Idk what to do! That's the healthy stuff they need! Week. Ugh they are something else lol!!!

[Shelzbells]

My chickens are pretty picky, and it's my fault because I give them lots of treats, and greens. I have tried all kinds of chicken feeds and my girls pretty much hate all regular base feeds, especially in pellet form it seems. Of all the feeds I have tried, they like the Grubblys and the Henhouse reserve the Best. But yes, with the HHR they do pick out what they like best first and seem to leave the pellets and the corn last. If that is all they have available, they will eat it when they get hungry. IF you can refrain from feeling sorry for them and "giving in" with all the things they do love LOLOL. What I do is feed the HHR in a 3 Gal sized fortex rubber livestock bowl, and then my other feed is just a good quality layer feed such as Layena High Protein with the BSFL in it. That food is in a regular chicken gravity feeder. So with the HHR in the Big bowl there is no waste on the ground. Everything they don't eat stays in the bowl, and since they are not fond of the regular feed either...they dont really have a choice....its eat the Layena or eat the leftovers in the and they do...they might be mad at me and give me dirty looks but thats ok....I still give them treats at least once a day LOL

[corineskipper]

Their egf production going up says all u need to know. It's what the chickens need and what they eat and like. Its a obvious choice if u ask me.

[corineskipper]

Thats all my chickens get and I get an egg a day from all. Its a COMPLETE food and they love it. Black Oil Sunflower seeds shouldn't b more than 24 bucks at tractor supply co op or big R I buy it all the time. But I mix mine with cooked rice that I add cinnamon and turmeric and red pepper flakes from my garden peppers shredded carrots diced apples raisins mealworms chopped nuts of any kind diced grapes and boiled egg. I make enough for 2 days at a time and store it in Mason jars. They get it all this way. Fruits veggies nuts all of it.

[JulieDobbins.]

I wonder if you were to hang the feeder up if that would help stop them from scratching it out of the feeder.

[cherylcase]

I tried it but my chickens did not like the Hen House Reserve and of course I did not see any improvement in egg production. Mine also picked out a few things they liked and scattered all the rest. I quit feeding it because I felt more rodents would be visiting their run.

[kellyraner]

I really appreciate the time you take to do a full review!
I know it's more effort to ferment, but the best I've found for fermenting is scratch&peck organic layer feed. It doesn't have any pellet in it so it ferments without making a funky paste and they eat it all. For a whole grain quality feed it might be worth a comparison evergreen without fermenting! I don't do fermented every day, and use nutrena hearty hen pellets free fed. I can't recommend it enough! They have a rewards program as well called plaid perks and you can earn coupons!
For the wasted feed, have you considered a grandpa's feeder? They're pricey, but girl, the amount I've saved in cutting back wasted feed had paid for it several times over!

[Nikki]

I have had the same problems with this same food.