Feeding Free Range

[JesnJer]

We have a flock of 20 hens, 3 roosters, and 6 guineas. Everyone free ranges over 5 wooded acres that is over flowing with rollie pollies (pill bugs), ticks, beetles, etc not to mention TONS of greens from all of the ground cover. They are so dependent on their grain food its not even funny. I am trying to get them to forage more if that's possible. Its not about saving money... we have so many birds to help with out bug population.

How often should we feed them?
We were feeding them like we did during the winter and most of the birds were underweight (there was always food out) I recently got my way and we eliminated 3 roosters. I'm not sure if they were underweight from the hens running from the roosters and roosters chasing the hens all over the property.
They have several options for water including their waterer spread out across the property.

I figured there is a TON of food at their feet all over the property but I want to make sure they are getting the vitamins etc they need from their surroundings.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I just read that poison ivy is poisonous to them, that I can control after I get the rest of my plants in the garden but its impossible for me to control things like oak and black locust leaves because we have so many oak trees.

 

[Den in Penn]

One thing you can do to make the move from the area of the coop is to make satellite feeding stations. Just having them walking to a feeder to eat may allow them to see more of what is around to eat.

 

[Eggcessive]

Most people say free range birds just need food before they go to roost to make sure they have a full crop. Mine come back to the coop and eat during the day. I like to put flat black rubber pans with a little feed in them far away from the coop just in case younger birds who stay out can get some. The pans are better than feeders because they will still eat the food if it gets wet.

 

[chfite]

Mine forage all day. I provide food for them all the time in the coop. What they find may be enough for them to live on, but might not allow for the daily egg production that we expect.

Mine don't eat as much feed as in winter.

I don't worry about poisonous plants. I believe that chickens won't eat the bad stuff if there is plenty of good stuff. I have azaleas and some other plants supposed to be poisonous to chickens. Mine just don't eat them.

Since we got chickens, we haven't had any garden pests.

Chris

 

[S and A Layers]

I have probably 80 free ranging chickens and recently scooped there crap out the floors in there coop and put them in feed sacks because I usually sell it for $3 a bag for extra feed money but its been hot and the flies got in the bag and there was maggots in the bag so I poured it out and my chickens scratched in it and ate them up I googled it and found out its fine, so now I been shoveling there crap up in a barrel spraying water on it and within a week there's tons of maggots I scoop about a 5 gallon bucket up a day and pour in a trough and they eat them up, it's free and the flies to the work and good protein, but I also give them feed before they roost.

 

[4 the Birds]

Feed daily

Even if the birds free range full time then a daily visit to the coop is advised. Mine line up at the free range gate when I come for the daily visit to give fresh water, collect eggs, scrape the poop board, and throw handfuls of pellets and cracked corn out on the ground for them. I also add some pellet feed to two feeders. Keep them well fed and you will get plenty of eggs! We sell eggs that pays for their feed several times over!

 

[JesnJer]

I have probably 80 free ranging chickens and recently scooped there crap out the floors in there coop and put them in feed sacks because I usually sell it for $3 a bag for extra feed money but its been hot and the flies got in the bag and there was maggots in the bag so I poured it out and my chickens scratched in it and ate them up I googled it and found out its fine, so now I been shoveling there crap up in a barrel spraying water on it and within a week there's tons of maggots I scoop about a 5 gallon bucket up a day and pour in a trough and they eat them up, it's free and the flies to the work and good protein, but I also give them feed before they roost.

Thats a really good idea! I use a concrete mixing bin when i clean out the coop then it goes to the compost pile. I might have to try this!! Found signs of chickens in my garden yesterday and thankfully they were just scratching and eating pill bugs (best guess) Maggots would be a great source of protein!

 

[JesnJer]

I was trying to break them of begging, they were so used to just being fed they were barely foraging. I might look for a scheduled dog feeder to feed them at night because I can't be there. I would LOVE to be able to leave feed out for them but then they stay close to the coop and eat the easy food. From what I've been able to see on the weekends they seem to be foraging a little more!! They cross the creek bed to get to the bugs on the other side of the creek more often now too! My gma said that farmers would only feed their chickens in the winter and then I was reading on here that you want to have feed out all of the time so I was confused. Sounds like other free rangers have found a happy medium too! Thanks!

 

[SunnySkies]

I put out enough feed for them to eat in a few minutes in the morning, then I notice they forage until it gets too hot, where they hole up. Then they begin foraging in the afternoon, and I top off the troughs again in the evenings, where they finish filling their crops and go to bed. If I'm not home, they work harder for dinner.

 

[S and A Layers]

mine free range during the day and when they come in the coop in the evening i dont pour it in trouphs or pans i just sling it all over the ground now in this coop i only house pullets and young roosters of all sizes from 3 weeks to 4 months then when they mature i move them to another pen. when i sling there feed they eat it slower and have to scratch for it and btw my coop is 16x16ft you can see it on my pictures. then in the morning i free range them all day till about dark then they put themselves up because they know its time to eat.