Free choice feeding free range poultry is pretty standard and likely a good approach. Some try to only feed at certain times of day to “get them to eat more free stuff” but that can create risk of nutritional imbalances.
^^^ has the right of it.
I free range, and provide something like*** an "All Flock" feed (20% protein, around 3.5% fiber) plus free choice oyster shell and grit. Most days, I don't close the run, so they can free range essentially constantly.
I feed only once daily, in the evening, to get them to come back towards the coops, so I can do a bahavior/obvious injury check, and a head count. Feeding in the evening pretty well ensures that breeds like CX (which I once had) will leave the coop to try and free range during the day.
To help avoid nutritional imbalances, I am aggressively working "
my acres of weeds" to ensure a substantial variety of options for my birds to graze on, coming into season at various times of year, and I don't plant "crops" - the field is heavily interspersed with differing species.
Also, I cull roughly weekly, so I can get up inside my birds and judge if there are any obvious dietary issues - how are the fat layers, liver condition, crop contents, etc...
