Do some people think free range = no food?

[ChickensAreSweet]

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I have been wanting to do that (buy "duck bread" at the outlet store)! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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I really wish I could do this. But the coyotes and hawks are really on top of things here.

ETA: Yes, I think free ranging with table scraps is how it was done in years gone by. It probably depends if you grew up with chickens or not.

 

[SkyWarrior]

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I really wish I could do this. But the coyotes and hawks are really on top of things here.

ETA: Yes, I think free ranging with table scraps is how it was done in years gone by. It probably depends if you grew up with chickens or not.

I'm in the same position. My chickens would be dinner for whatever wildlife goes through my land as opposed to my dinner. I think some folks figure it's just an acceptable loss and a price for free ranging for little cost.

I'm not quite as willing to share, but that's my choice. Also, Montana forage is probably not as high quality as forage in other parts of the country. People way back when had chickens that ate from the grain feeders for other livestock and got feed that way. There's not much of that on my property.

I think some folks who free range have valid points, but I know it would not work for me. The roos are still pigging down on the layer feed this morning, which is fine, but it looks like I'm going to have to make a trip into town to pick up a cart of expired bread because I didn't expect to go through so much feed so quickly.

Still, they're fun to watch and I like them.

I think I am going to wait before worming them. If they don't gain weight, with chowing down, I'll know I should worm and take care of that. I haven't wormed anyone in my flock, but they really don't eat a lot -- except the turkey.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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I really wish I could do this. But the coyotes and hawks are really on top of things here.

ETA: Yes, I think free ranging with table scraps is how it was done in years gone by. It probably depends if you grew up with chickens or not.

I'm in the same position. My chickens would be dinner for whatever wildlife goes through my land as opposed to my dinner. I think some folks figure it's just an acceptable loss and a price for free ranging for little cost.

I'm not quite as willing to share, but that's my choice. Also, Montana forage is probably not as high quality as forage in other parts of the country. People way back when had chickens that ate from the grain feeders for other livestock and got feed that way. There's not much of that on my property.

I think some folks who free range have valid points, but I know it would not work for me. The roos are still pigging down on the layer feed this morning, which is fine, but it looks like I'm going to have to make a trip into town to pick up a cart of expired bread because I didn't expect to go through so much feed so quickly.

Still, they're fun to watch and I like them.

I think I am going to wait before worming them. If they don't gain weight, with chowing down, I'll know I should worm and take care of that. I haven't wormed anyone in my flock, but they really don't eat a lot -- except the turkey.

Yes I've driven thru Montana and it's pretty dry compared to the Pacific NW. That would mean a difference in forage, for sure. And yes, the other animals' food would have been important. I agree. Good for you for fattening up those boys.

 

[BlackBart]

My Neighbour never fed his chickens when he free ranged them. All of his chickens decided to move to my house. I didn't have the heart to send them back so I paid him for them.

I think it depends on three things, how much feed sources you have on your property (grass, manure piles etc. ) or how much scrap food you can scrounge up from local produce stores etc. , if you are willing to loose some to predators and if you don't mind having chicken poop everywhere.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Here are pictures of the roos. They don't look bad, although they have some black on their combs and they look a little rough:

Overall, I don't think they look bad, but feeling them under the feathers they feel really skinny. I don't think it was abuse, but I would like them heavier.

 

[Judy]

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Say WHAT! Someone'd better "work" that out again; that's less than an area that's 9 feet by 10 feet per chicken. NO WAY!

You're right, it does not make sense, and now I can't find it. I believed my memory; I should have known better. Somebody who's been on here a long time wrote it; I think it was in one of those ancient poultry management books. Could it have been 8.7 acres per chicken? The 87 sounds right, but that sounds like too much. Maybe someone will read this and recognize it or remember who wrote it.

 

[Judy]

About the black on their combs, it's probably just fowl pox, from a virus from mosquito bites. If it is, it will magically go away after 3 weeks or so and they will be immune.

 

[Tala]

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They'd better recalculate, or maybe throw in variables for different kinds of grass. we have about 1/2 acre with Bermuda grass and at one point I had 64 birds and 2 large dogs on it ---- and we still have plenty of grass, though I througughly enjoyed not having to mow very much!!!

 

[Ang]

Okay, I'll step up to the plate. When we free-ranged back in the day before the great fox explosion we never put feed out for our chickens during the summer months. They would lay just as well as they do now that we don't free-range. I think a chicken's ability to fend for itself is grossly underestimated. We have 4.5 acres and that is plenty of area for our girls to keep themselves fed and happy and laying eggs. Of course, you must take into consideration how much free-range area you have and how many chickens you have. It worked for us until the foxes took over.