Foraging in winter

[Candyhl]

I hope to allow my chickens to free roam my back yard which will give them a couple of acres to forage. My question is when there is snow in the winter, will they forage as much? More or less?
Or am I better off keeping them in the run for the most part and just controlling their free time more?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Your area may be different. Here, the snow pack last for months at a time. There is no forage. Nothing to see or find.

Their release time, when it happens, is much more about fresh air, sunlight and exercise than it is about finding any food.

 

[aoxa]

Your area may be different.  Here, the snow pack last for months at a time. There is no forage.  Nothing to see or find.  

Their release time, when it happens, is much more about fresh air, sunlight and exercise than it is about finding any food.

Exactly the same here. If they ever venture out, it's never for long if there is snow on the ground.

Our grass does stay relatively green even in the winter, so if they can get to it, they will go out and eat the grass, but that's about the extent of that.

If you plough your entire yard, I'm sure they would forage