Free range and commercial feed

[Vaughnr007]

Question about feeding commercial feed to free range fowl. Ive got free ranging chickens and of course guineas. Right now I fill feeder with all flock feed and let it sit out all day. The fowl have a choice of when and how much they want/need. I've got 11 hens and 4 roosters(2 got to market this Saturday). The guineas are 4 rooster and 3 hens.
Any suggestions besides adding calcium?

 

[addctd2plnts]

Question about feeding commercial feed to free range fowl. Ive got free ranging chickens and of course guineas. Right now I fill feeder with all flock feed and let it sit out all day. The fowl have a choice of when and how much they want/need. I've got 11 hens and 4 roosters(2 got to market this Saturday). The guineas are 4 rooster and 3 hens.
Any suggestions besides adding calcium?

Are you looking for opinions on actual brands of feed, or what to offer them in addition to feed?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

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.

 

[Vaughnr007]

They normally hit the feeder as soon as they are let out of the coop. Most of the day they free range in the pasture or woods until about a hour before dark. Then I call them for some wild bird seed. Both chickens and guineas come running for the treats. They stick around and eventually go to the coop.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

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...

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

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...

@U_Stormcrow to his flock: I feed with an eye towards your long term health.

Chicken: Oh good...that really makes me feel bette...

@U_Stormcrow: In my book, "long term health" is X weeks.

Chicken:

 

[U_Stormcrow]

@U_Stormcrow to his flock: I feed with an eye towards your long term health.

Chicken: Oh good...that really makes me feel bette...

@U_Stormcrow: In my book, "long term health" is X weeks.

Chicken:

its so so true!!! and yet I pay more attnetion to what I feed my birds than many do.

Healthy birds weigh more at butcher, and taste better!