Eating while free ranging, not eating much layer pellets

[Yard full o' rocks]

I have been letting my 4 grown BO girls, and my 2, 19 week old Delawares "free range" most of the day. They LOVE being out. We have approx 20 acres and they have a lot of room. Anyway, we have noticed that when they free range, they eat much less layer ration. We still get 2-3 eggs a day although getting eggs is just a bonus for us. We are not raising them just for eggs. My question is "do they get enough nutrition eating whatever they eat while they're out"? From the looks of things, they LOVE my flowerbeds. I just don't what them under nurished simply because they like to roam the place. Any advise?

 

[DianeB]

My chickens don't like layer pellets much either. I only have three hens that range around my backyard and vegetable garden. Their egg production is excellent. They just started laying a few weeks ago and we are already getting about one medium sized egg from each hen everyday.

I use to be worried that they were not eating much, just picking through the grass and plants. After a closer look, I noticed that they eat a lot of insects, worms, spiders, etc. (They live to eat bugs). Every night their crops are very full and they are very healthy.

If you are concerned that they are not eating well, you can spend an hour or so for a few days observing what they eat. Just use a notebook to document the time, place and what they are eating. I also look at there droppings from time to time. This way I can see if they have worms or other parasites and if they are digesting their food.

I am still trying to figure out the exact nutrional properties of certain plants and animals. From what I have read so far, earthworms are about 30% protein; slugs and snails are very high in calcium; and crickets are about 30-40% protien and also high in calcium and other minerals. Most grass and greens are very high in minerals, protein and good fats.

You may want to look into permaculture and old pasture methods. Clover, alfafla and buckwheat are pretty nutritious and chickens love to eat them. There are certian plants that attract insects. Mulching also attracts worms, snails and insects.

P.S. RIR and other dual-purpose breeds were developed for pasture systems. With only 40 hens on 20 acres, I am pretty sure they are eating a good diet.

I hope this helps
DB

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Quote:
Diane

Thank you SOOO much. This will put my mind at ease at least.

 

[mamapeeps]

A long time ago in a land far far away.... chickens were not fed by people... and they foraged for all their food!

I think I'd start eating clover if it was it or those layer pellets!

 

[gritsar]

I continue to keep a feeder full of layer pellets available, but my chickens free range all day on 80 acres and there's days they barely touch the layer feed.
I think of it as their insurance in case of a bad day free ranging.

 

[NotTheMomma]

I worried about the same thing at first. So I made a point to check each chicken's crop at night when they were on the roost. Amazingly enough, the crops were very full! They have access to all the layer pellets they want, but they don't eat much of it. They forage on grasses, tomatoes, apples, pears, table scraps, bugs, acorns, etc. They all know where the feed is if they want it. Some of the hens will pick at the feed at eat a bit before roosting. During the day, on occasion I will see a hen in the coop eating feed, but rarely. They are all large, fluffy, healthy looking birds, and laying well. I've decided to let well enough alone, and if a problem arises, we'll address it then.

BTW, mine get VERY upset if they aren't let out to forage. They were in lock down for two days (had to stay in the coop or run) because I wanted to make sure they knew where the nests were, and to see how many eggs I should be getting a day! They hated it! Even though I went out several times and threw some apples/pears/or table scraps to them, it just wasn't enough. They have lots of grasses/weeds/etc. still in their run, and they did eat lots of it. They also were scratching up the dried grasses looking for those bugs. They're favorite places to be are under the bushes, apple trees, etc. that has lots of mulch, and therefore, LOTS of bugs!! They'll also either take their beaks or just stomp on tall grasses to get the seed pods. They eat white clover leaves and blooms, oat leaves and the seeds, fescue, etc.

If they weren't getting enough to eat, or a balanced diet, I think their bodies would demand the layer pellets. Same was with the oyster shells offered free choice. If they need it, they'll eat it. If they don't, they leave it be. (Mine leave it!)

 

[cw]

Quote:
an old man up the road from us recalls growing up durin the depression here in southern ky, and it wasnt until the 50s he said his family never thought about buyin chicken feed.

 

[Judy]

Around here, many still only offer cracked corn and occasional table scraps. I have feed for them but they eat very little of it, even though they go in and out of the coop all day.