Free choice feeding vs. Scheduled feeding; opinions??

[Folly's place]

I have feed and water available all the time, in their coop and roofed run. No food is outside, and they do free range most days.
My schedule varies, so having 'mealtimes' won't work here. Having no food of any sort outside of their secure area brings in predators, so that's not happening here either.
Mary

 

[sunrise.superman]

I feed fermented breakfast about 1/4c per bird to pick at in the a.m. and they have dry to free feed in a feeder during the day. They forage the entire large back yard all day, a little snack at night before roosting if I notice empty crops.

 

[KIMEng]

I have 3 laying pullets right now in our coop. 2 of them started laying eggs at 16 wks. I given them about a cup of laying pellets each and then add a handful of corn, sunflower seeds, and grain-gives them some variety and they get to kick it around a bit and scratch at it. I also feed them left over raw veggies and just a bit of fruit in the afternoon as well as we are in Fl and boy is it humid and hot right now-so I pop the veggies in the freezer about 20 mins before giving it to them-they seem to enjoy this-. they all greet me at the coop door. So it is easy to track how much they eat with just 3. I leave it out all day long with the water. They do not have access to water and food at night-but they are currently staying on my back porch in a dog cage as a raccoon broke into our coop and took off with my beloved Leghorn, very sad morning. Anyway we are revamping the coop and for their security they stay close by for now-once coop predator proofed I will have water for them overnight. They seem like very happy girls, I pick them up and they coo. My Leghorn used to perch on my hand like a parakeet, miss her!

 

[centrarchid]

I like to provide enough food in the early morning to keep them fed till about noon. The balance of the day they forage on their own. I try to keep tabs on how far they go and the level of crop fill immediately after they go to roost. Ideally they do not range too far and have nearly full crop at bedtime. If either ranging to far or crop less that nearly full then I increase allotment the following morning. If feed still present at end of work day I reduce allotment.

 

[Mrs. K]

I feed each day with the goal of an empty pan at dark. If it is bare empty, I feed a little more the next day, if there is left over, I feed a little less, or even skip a feeding. I don't have a lot of wasted feed on the ground, they will clean it up. There is a difference in hungry hens and starving hens. I do not starve my hens, but I do let them get hungry enough so they eat up the feed.

When I started, I realized that there was a terrible smell, and that was wasted feed, worked into the bedding of the run. That is expensive loss. The only time I set up a 24/7 feeder is if I am going to be gone for a few days.

I do feed in the run.

Mrs K

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Free access to feed and water. The "Breakfast" crowd are more than likely not feeding to meet their birds needs and supporting their anthropomorphic views that chickens are like people.

 

[centrarchid]

Free access to feed and water. The "Breakfast" crowd are more than likely not feeding to meet their birds needs and supporting their anthropomorphic views that chickens are like people.

Or they are running a flock on ground that has enough nutritional resources (forages) to supply a significant proportion of the flock's nutritional needs. Some of the slower growing heritage breeds handle this well. Others (the majority) are working with faster growing /heavier producing breeds that have greater nutritional need and less capacity to meet that need through foraging. You can also push chicken densities on pasture hard enough to operate even a free-range flock as if in a feed lot. Complete diets do make the latter end of spectrum possible. I have option of running entire spectrum and with my free-ranging juveniles I employ the breakfast through brunch approach. Hens being conditioned for use as broodies also do well with the heavier reliance on forages.

I would be stuck with running the full feed lot option with Cornish X regardless of forage quality and quantity. Can also have seasonal limitations for a given flock size as forage varies more during season than the flock consuming it.

 

[Folly's place]

Forage quality varies greatly, depending on the season, plantings, usable area, population density; factors that take knowledge and experience to factor in appropriately.
Missouri is not Michigan, or Vermont, or Florida, much less Arizona! And very few are raising birds resembling Jungle fowl, or living in SE Asia. That's why I think it's best to offer a balanced ration free choice, and then enjoy the birds actually eating less of it during good times on their range.
Besides, it's easier! Trying to micromanage feed vs. forage on a daily basis is hard, and likely not that effective for most of us.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

Forage quality varies greatly, depending on the season, plantings, usable area, population density; factors that take knowledge and experience to factor in appropriately.
Missouri is not Michigan, or Vermont, or Florida, much less Arizona! And very few are raising birds resembling Jungle fowl, or living in SE Asia. That's why I think it's best to offer a balanced ration free choice, and then enjoy the birds actually eating less of it during good times on their range.
Besides, it's easier! Trying to micromanage feed vs. forage on a daily basis is hard, and likely not that effective for most of us.
Mary

You can make adjustments. With slow growing American Dominique, a breed found only in Missouri and then only on every other Thursday, you can do it. It is not a "my way or the highway" regardless of direction. I described an option and gave insight on how to make adjustments.

 

[Folly's place]

And I agree with your post about forages, just that adjustments are difficult, especially for people with 'backyards', not managed forage plots or pastures, or extensive experience.
Mary