Balancing feed for backyard free range (for both ducks & chickens)

[nao57]

So...I wanted to get some advice for balancing free range feed amounts of the backyard free ranging of the ducks and chickens. Thanks ahead of time. Any suggestions helpful.

It seems like, I can't really tell how much grass, apple tree leaves, critters, bugs, etc, the ducks are actually getting out of the back.

So how do you estimate how much they are getting? I don't see a ton of bugs back there but there might be a few.

And in the research it says that chickens will need an estimate of 4 ounces of feed a day, and ducks around 3 to 5 depending on if they are large or small ducks. (I have pekins, which seem to eat like small wolves, and need more. But I also have 3 khakis.)

So if you are feeding twice a day, do you just say, hey I'll cut their feed in half if they are chewing up the yard most the day? Or do you have specific amounts where you say, I'll give them a %? What's the ideal percent of feed to give them based on weight needs per breed *(%)* if you are thinking...well they ate 'something' in the back yard, but I don't know what it is?

I'm also in Utah, and here its lower humidity, clay soil, etc, which means for an almost but not quite semi-arid climate where its harder for things to grow.

I'm not sure how to maximize the efficiency on feed, to make it so I'm adequate for their weight, not going to cut egg production (in 2 months), lowering feed costs, but also not starving them and keeping them on spot.

Thanks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Put out a good all flock ration free choice. Your birds will consume as much as they need. My feed bill gets cut in half during warmer ranging months. Make sure to provide oyster shells free choice for the calcium needs.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Ditto to the above post. Few chickens or ducks are going to be gluttons, especially with commercial feed. Feed free choice 24/7 in a good treadle feeder and you will have more eggs and faster growing chickens and less fighting over feed. I would recommend sticking to one type of feed like pellets or crumbles instead of something like a mixed grain that the birds will rake out to find treats. You should be feeding pellets or crumbles anyway for good nutrition unless you have a ton of scraps for the birds.

 

[bhawk-23]

Happy to find this thread. I was wondering if free feeding is good for chickens who also free-range. I feel like all they do is eat. When I look outside they are still eating their feed in-between foraging. It doesn't help that my son makes "treats" with their crumbles so always enticing them to eat more. Lol He loves it as well as the girls so it's hard to tell him not to. I do limit it saying they should forage when out. Anyways, I just want to be sure it's ok to have access to food 24/7. I am trying to get better about treats. I'm a sucker for begging animals and my girls have figured out that standing at the door waiting for me works every dang time but they're just so cute when they do that!!! Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My birds free range. I give them all the ration they want. They will consume what they need, but they prefer to range as my feed consumption drops dramatically in the warmer months when there's plenty out there to eat. I personally have never limited the feed here.

 

[RojoMarz]

I'm in CO and have similar conditions to the OP (lower humidity, clay soil, almost but not quite semi-arid climate where its harder for things to grow) plus an elevation of 9k feet. I free feed, but also free range. I honestly don't know how much stuff the girls actually eat while out and about. We have very little bugs or grass. I do the free ranging more for their 'enjoyment' than for nutrition.

 

[corriemartin]

When my birds are free-ranging, they hardly eat any commercial feed. I always have it available for them, but bugs and tasty plants are much more appetizing.

 

[Ferd Berfel]

If mine get hungry they can go inside and eat, but they would rather scratch around in the yard and pasture. They do eat some grain, I think to get something in them before foraging. I supply oyster shell because I don't know how much they get free ranging. The ducks beg when I am in the yard, so I give them some feed.

 

[corriemartin]

If mine get hungry they can go inside and eat, but they would rather scratch around in the yard and pasture. They do eat some grain, I think to get something in them before foraging. I supply oyster shell because I don't know how much they get free ranging. The ducks beg when I am in the yard, so I give them some feed.

The only "treats" I've ever given my ducks is pink clover blossoms or thrown them some grasshoppers or other bugs I've picked off of garden plants. The ducks used to be the biggest eaters/wasters--it's unbelievable how much food they waste, it ending up on the ground, or in the bottom of their water bucket--but lately, I've hardly been feeding them at all. They're always out snuffling about under the grass. I have no idea what they're getting, but they seem really happy.