Do you "free feed"?

[coop-er]

What is considered best? Free feeding, by leaving your feeder full all of the time and the flock eats as they wish OR feeding at a specific time each day? I would like to free feed but do not want my birds to become too heavy to safely descend from their roosts. Opinions please...

 

[CityFarmer202]

I prefer controlled feeding because it allows me to know how much they are eating and so they don't get fat.

 

[coop-er]

I prefer controlled feeding because it allows me to know how much they are eating and so they don't get fat.  

This is what I thought as well, but when I feed them they act absolutely starved. They also free range 2 or more hours a day, so I know they spend all of that time eating also.

 

[CityFarmer202]

Mine do act hungry like that, but by the end of the day, their crop is always full. Maybe their just super excited, lol I raised some meat chickens, and feed them like that and they always acted hungry, but when i butchered them, they were nice and fat, and really tasty too. Mine free range too, so i don't feed them as much as i would if they were not free range.

 

[dazookeyper]

I put feed out twice a day. Each time I put out what they eat plus a little so I know they won't run out. They always have feed but run to eat when I add more. Silly birds. I give treats in the evening.

 

[CityFarmer202]

sound pretty good too me Mine are always ready to eat, even when their crop is full or right after they have a full meal...they are quite silly What do you feed for treats?

 

[dazookeyper]

a little bit of everything. Leftovers...meal worms...handful of scratch if it's not too hot....they love spaghetti & blueberries

 

[CityFarmer202]

cool!! thanks

 

[Den in Penn]

It is what works for your system. Chickens (except meaties like cornishx) are self regulating. They will fill the crop and go sit and digest what they have eaten. Mine are on a open buffet even with the pasture available.

 

[JJSS89]

It is what works for your system. Chickens (except meaties like cornishx) are self regulating. They will fill the crop and go sit and digest what they have eaten. Mine are on a open buffet even with the pasture available.

Cornish X Rocks are self-regulating too, they just gain weight too quickly on a strictly commercial feed diet.

After they are three weeks old, I like to give them free access to as much fermented feed as they want for a few hours and then let them free range all day and soon I can just leave feed out for them all day while they're ranging and they will choose to eat grass and grit and bugs rather than nap in the food pans