#Midlifecrisis
In the Brooder
- May 14, 2018
- 21
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Hello all. Newby here. Lots and lots of great information on this site, but it can get overwhelming and confusing.
I have been pondering the feed vs no feed, treats vs no treats (and the definition of treats!)
Currently I have 6 5 week old pullets. I have grower crumbles available 24/7 as well as fresh water. Although I understand that commercially prepared feed has 100% nutrition for the chickens, I am a huge fan of feeding/providing the least processed, closest to nature as I can. So that brings me to "treats" and the definition of.
I like to "treat" my chickens to seasonal strawberries, mulberries, raspberries ect. I'll pick chickweed, dandelions, clover and other "weeds" from the yard and throw them into the run. I will also dig around in the dirt for worms and bugs and hand feed them to the girls. (Don't pretend you all don't do it too
) To me these are all things that they would find while free ranging anyway. I also have buckwheat growing for some extra forage.
The girls are pretty much "free range" in an enclosed 30x40 ft area with a coop/run for weather/predator protection. Within the enclosed area are herbs, berry trees/bushes, annual and perennial edible and ornamental flowers (borage, echinacea, feverfew, ect) as well as "weeds".
So my question is, what is considered a "treat"? I want to raise my girls on as natural a diet as possible with some modern back up but don't want to go overboard. (Although it might already be too late for that![Barnie :barnie :barnie](/styles/byc-smilies/barnie.gif)
)
I have been pondering the feed vs no feed, treats vs no treats (and the definition of treats!)
Currently I have 6 5 week old pullets. I have grower crumbles available 24/7 as well as fresh water. Although I understand that commercially prepared feed has 100% nutrition for the chickens, I am a huge fan of feeding/providing the least processed, closest to nature as I can. So that brings me to "treats" and the definition of.
I like to "treat" my chickens to seasonal strawberries, mulberries, raspberries ect. I'll pick chickweed, dandelions, clover and other "weeds" from the yard and throw them into the run. I will also dig around in the dirt for worms and bugs and hand feed them to the girls. (Don't pretend you all don't do it too
![Oops! :oops: :oops:](/styles/byc-smilies/hide.gif)
The girls are pretty much "free range" in an enclosed 30x40 ft area with a coop/run for weather/predator protection. Within the enclosed area are herbs, berry trees/bushes, annual and perennial edible and ornamental flowers (borage, echinacea, feverfew, ect) as well as "weeds".
So my question is, what is considered a "treat"? I want to raise my girls on as natural a diet as possible with some modern back up but don't want to go overboard. (Although it might already be too late for that
![Barnie :barnie :barnie](/styles/byc-smilies/barnie.gif)
![Stick Out Tongue :p :p](/styles/byc-smilies/tongue.png)