Feeding on Forage Alone?

[bubba1358]

I hear conflicting info on this. Some people say that chickens can forage for 100% of their diet. Others say no way.

I am pasture-raising my chickens, meaning the have an electro-net confining them in a given area for 1 to 2 weeks before moving to a fresh spot, with a movable coop and plenty of fresh clean water. I have some sheep in there, too. Given this scenario, is it possible to feed them entirely on pasture during the spring, summer, and fall? I add in kitchen and garden scraps too. And if so, how much space (square footage) is needed for 20 large chickens to be healthy and happy?

Thanks.

 

[Den in Penn]

Yes they can forage for their living. But their egg laying and health may suffer if the needs are not met. And there will be times when the needs can't be met by forage alone IE dry weather. It looks like you already know that winter will mean you have to supplement. If you are moving them to fresh pasture, the size is of less importance then the quality of the forage available, so you will have to monitor that and move it as needed. Better for you scenario to move it before it looks worn out. I don't know your climate or forage so exact size can vary. In my mind I keep upping the square feet per bird. Truly free range birds have acres to roam.

 

[Fred's Hens]

There is a simple method that many range minded folks use. They only feed at night, say around 7 pm. If the birds devour the feed, that tells you they simply are craving calories and nutrients they did not get during the day in pasturing no matter how hard they tried.

Just a suggestion as something to try and judge for yourself.

 

[Fentress]

20 chickens inside one large run of electro net(164 linear feet), moved every 2 weeks is about right in terms of rotating pasture. However, unless you have unbelievable forage, like a compost pile full of bugs or the hoppers have just hatched, they will need feed. Lately I have been giving my flock the run of the entire 3 acre property and I have seen feed consumption go way down, but that is because they have more space with more resources. Inside a confined space they eat up the bugs in a few days. The pasture keeps them healthy and happy, but it does not provide all of the protein that they need.

Mark

 

[WoodlandWoman]

20 chickens inside one large run of electro net(164 linear feet), moved every 2 weeks is about right in terms of rotating pasture. However, unless you have unbelievable forage, like a compost pile full of bugs or the hoppers have just hatched, they will need feed. Lately I have been giving my flock the run of the entire 3 acre property and I have seen feed consumption go way down, but that is because they have more space with more resources. Inside a confined space they eat up the bugs in a few days. The pasture keeps them healthy and happy, but it does not provide all of the protein that they need.

Mark

x2

 

[donrae]

It also depends on the production level you expect from your layers. The high production most of us want from modern birds requires the feed to support that. You may need to supplement calcium if nothing else. Protein could also be an issue, as stated depending on the insect availability and the scraps you feed. This is so individualized, you'll really just have to try it and see how things go. Monitor your area and move the tractor before they eat it down bare, have enough space for each spot to recover before you need to use it again, and monitor egg production and see if you're happy with that. Something like this is just going to be trial and error.

 

[bubba1358]

Hows about one large pen? I have the netting to make it 25,000 square feet (four 165' nets making a square). Let's say it's average pasture, mixed grasses and weeds, Zone 6b. Would 25 chickens be able to forage in this space for two solid weeks and have enough to eat?

 

[lazy gardener]

I highly doubt it. The typical BYF is made up of birds that have been domesticated and had the ability to be truly independent bred out of them. This is just my opinion. I like what a previous poster stated about offering them feed before they go to roost at night. That should keep them motivated to forage during the day, but still help to meet their nutritional needs. I don't know where you live, but you might consider BSF larvae supplementation if your climate is warm enough. They can be raised with minimal effort and expense. Unfortunately, I'm not in a warm enough area to take advantage of them, though considering if it would work by allowing a colony to over winter in my 8 x 8 greenhouse.

 

[wlhtx]

I am currently attempting to morph my flock into one that purely free ranges (except for garden/dinner scraps) during the late spring/summer/early fall months. This is a recent experiment on my part though.

We live on a property with a lot of acreage, and my birds have their run of open pastures, wooded areas, pond banks, etc., so quality of foraging is not really an issue for us. However, even though they have unlimited space to range, the truth is that they tend to stick to a 1-2, maybe 3, acre area. (I have 47 birds.) For months I've been feeding once a day, about 7:30 in the evening, as someone mentioned above - but over the last few weeks I've deliberately started skipping days. Only feeding every other day, then every two days, etc. IME, the birds will mob you at feeding time whether they get fed every single day or every few days. Part of the reason for this is because I do have several that, while they do poke around and range during the day, they are not "on a mission" so to speak to go out and find food. Rather they seem content to hang out in the shade and wait for the food woman to make her evening delivery (because this is just what they've always been used to). It's certainly a learning process for them, but a hungry bird is definitely a better foraging bird. They are all still at a very healthy weight, though - depending on the plumpness of your birds when you begin this process - you can expect them to lose some weight. Like most of us, a little weight loss probably won't hurt them. They will need to be a little slimmer and a little more athletic in order to chase down the bugs

I will say that my production has dropped some over the past month, BUT I attribute that more to the increasing summer temps that have caused many of the birds to start dropping feathers. Quality of the eggs laid remains great with good hard shells, etc.

 

[centrarchid]

I cannot support 20 juveniles in a pasture defined by a 164 foot for more than a day a so. The exhaust insects in a day and edible plants alone do not provide a balanced diet. They need much more area, then they can do it but not all patches of ground are equal.


Total free-range possible and I can tell by observing crops immediately after birds go to roost. If crops empty, then foraging coming up short and flock will bust up soon.


Total free-range is seldom practical unless single-mating games on walks where only chicks (no meat or eggs) desired. Otherwise look into what is the first limiting aspect to the free-ranging birds diet. In most instances the first limiting component of diet for free-ranging birds is energy. I can tighten up ranging habits of such restricted birds by simply providing whole corn. If energy was problem, birds would promptly contract ranging once corn made available. Other starchy grains such as oats or even wheat will provide similar benefits. That is the original reason old timers used scratch, to supplement forage and tighten flocks up to keep them around where protected and products can be harvested by you rather than wildlife or neighbors.