a few random questions...

[peony07]

Our 12 week old girls are happy free ranging in our back yard (mostly because we haven't finished the run) with dirt, grass, pea gravel and a concrete pad. We don't supplement with grit and they seem fine. Are they going to keel over with impacted intestines? Is grit essential with free range birds?
Also, we haven't been giving them treats much at all so far, but when we throw out some greens they could care less. Do we have to train them to eat kitchen scraps? Should we have a designated place where we give them scraps?
Their feeder and waterer are both in the coop, is that ok year round? they just go inside when they want to eat feed and water, so I don't see the need for a second feed area.
Lastly, our yard has a 3 foot hurricane fence which the girls could easily fly over, but don't. They have even sat on the fence and peeked over but they stayed on the good side. We were just thinking of surrounding the run area with some chicken wire (3 feet tall too) just to keep them from pooping EVERYWHERE! Would the fencing actually keep them contained? We haven't clipped their wings yet either. We don't think we could completely enclose the space as that would be just way too much work!
Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

 

[needtohatch]

If they free range with access to dirt or gravel they won't need grit.
It may take a little time for them to know what "treats" are. The first time I gave ours sunflower seeds, they ran away

Now they mob me when they see the bag!
Feed and water inside is fine.
They may stay in your yard, they may get brave and stray too far. If you need them to stay in your yard, you will either have to clip their wings or build a covered run. Ours visit the neibors all the time now (took a few months for them to get brave). Lucky for us the neibors don't mind. If you are going to fence in the run anyway, just make it a bit taller (so you can walk in it) and cover it with chicken wire.