Feeding naturally

[sarahschickens]

My parents had chickens for a brief period of time when I was growing up, but that was before we became aware of GMO feeds. I am highly neurotic about the chicks that I just bought and want to know what would be the best way to feed them. We live in a small town, but we do not have the space or good enough fencing that we can free range them (as much as I wish we could), but their run is in an area that used to grow weeds and has plenty of bugs-for now-but I worry about what to feed them and make sure that they are getting the nutrients that they need. I know that certain table scraps are good for them, as well as egg shells for calcium, but what should they be getting in the way of grain and bug? Any suggestions?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I feel you on the GMO thing but since you don't have a pristine pasture for them it's best to give growing birds grower feed and layers layer feed. That stuff has as close to optimum nutrition that a newbie can hope for. Scraps should be 10% of diet or less.
Crickets, mealworms, fish and meat scraps, fruit and veggies cut up, yogurt. No added calcium until they start laying.