Free range chickens, how much feed do they really need?

[Jaemomma]

I have been free ranging my 14 chickens since they were about 8 weeks old. They are out of the coop all day every day and are only closed in at night. We have 13 acres and they are free to roam all of it (except my small fenced in vegetable garden). Grass, woods, bugs, different kinds of plants, table scraps, compost, etc.

They seem to be to be growing well, they are now 14 and 18 weeks old.

I usually throw some feed out for them once a day, probably about half a cup each, I don't really measure. Do you think I'm feeding them enough? I know they will need more during the winter months when there isn't as much for them to eat. But what about now?

I have some neighbors that don't feed their chickens anything other than the odd table scrap or scratch feed once in a while. They get plenty of eggs during warmer months. I don't expect mine to lay for a bit yet.

We recently took to feeding our cats after we close the coop at night to keep the chickens from eating all of the cat food.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Is it possible for you to just use the free choice method? (Having an automatic feeder in the coop.) This means they can eat all they want. Otherwise I would feed them the amount you have been at least twice a day.

 

[RJSorensen]

I vote for free choice as well. The balanced rations have the trace elements and such that I feel are best for the birds to have. I free range much like you do, my chickens don't eat much of the grower I am offering them, but they will take what they need. Scratch is usually poor in protein, ours is 9% and growing birds need 16% at least. If you wish to just offer food in the evenings, you should put out what they will clean up in twenty minutes or so.

Best to you and your birds,


RJ

 

[Jaemomma]

I decided to put out 1 cup per chicken this afternoon, which is an odd time for me to feed them, usually its first thing in the morning or last at night. They only ate about half of it and it took them 5 hours to do that!

I think I'm going to keep experimenting.