Chickens Eating Too Much Feed?

[Danielle3140]

I have had 7 chickens for about a month, they're all active layers, about a year old. I'm getting 6-7 eggs a day. They free range, having access to acres of property, yet much of the time I find them in their coop eating the commercial feed. Am I doing something wrong? I thought they'd be out and about eating grass and bugs, not the commercial stuff. Any thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[my sunwolf]

What kind of chickens are they? Any of the production layer breeds (especially the reds) will eat a lot of commercial feed.

ETA: If you've only had them a month, they may still be shy about their surroundings. I place feed and water stations outside the coop and move them further away every day to encourage them to forage more. I also try to lead them away from the coop with treats. Sometimes you just get a batch of hens that really likes commercial feed, I call them picky eaters.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My chickens forage a lot, eating lots of grass (they help keep it *mowed*) but they do love their feed!!! I would say it is normal.

 

[chfite]

I understand to allow about 4 ounces of feed daily for an adult hen. Mine forage all day, but eat their feed as well. I always keep the feeder loaded, so that they can eat at any time.

I suspect that hens that forage only would lay less than those with access to commercial feed. The readily available concentrated feed would overwhelm what they could forage, unless you have provided specific plants and critters for them to eat.

Chris