The Minimalist Chicken Diet

RainbowCake

In the Brooder
Jul 3, 2015
5
0
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Hey guys.

Completely new to this. We just got four chickens with a whole overgrown yard to themselves. We actually finally decided to get the chickens to help with our slug problem - and boy do they find them!

We will be wintering them inside with formal chicken feed. My question is: while they have free range of the back yard, will they need their diet of endless grasses, giant worms, slugs and bugs supplemented, or will they be alright with this current arrangement?

If it matters: they're a Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Leghorn, and unknown black and white, average size.
 
How big is your yard? Just know that if you offer no supplemental feed, they will not lay very much because they do not have the extra energy to put into eggs. I would feed them at least in the evenings so they want to sleep in the coop and to help out their foraging a bit.
 
Welcome! They still need free choice feed, either layer if they are hens in lay, or flock raiser with oyster shell on the side, if they are younger. They will be happy to eat stuff in your yard, but still need a complete feed. Malnutrition isn't better! Mary
 

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