free range food

[GoldenSparrow]

do you all feed your chickens if there free range through the summer?
I heard somewhere that you dont need to feed them, if there out all summer scraching.
is this true?
thanks

 

[austinandkara]

I always put out feed in the morning and they can have it if they want. Some of mine eat it and some just take right to the pasture and start foraging. Also, I give mine snacks twice a week-usually scrambled eggs and yogurt. Of course, in the fall and winter months they will need feed as their are less insects and the grass is not as nutritious.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I always have food in the coop, if they want it. They love all the foods they can forage, it's really their favorite, but what's available and how much really varies by season here. This way, they always have enough to eat, are super healthy and lay really well for me.

 

[schellie69]

I have had free choice flock raiser and let them free range a few time a week. Last year I let them free range all day and the grass in my back yard is gone so this year they are getting veggies from garden and grass clippings and then only free range a few hours each day.

 

[shesaredroan]

Quote:
Ditto!! WoodlandWoman.

I always have 16% lay pellet out for my laying girls and 22% chick-grow-lay crumble for the younger ones.
I let my flock out to free range in the afternoons when I'm home and can keep an eye out for predator trouble.
The younger ones are too shy to come out and free range, so they totally depend on the crumbles in the coop.

I do find that my birds that free range eat less of the bagged feed.
Need to add, my flock also gets treats several times a week, scratch, kitchen scraps, sometimes sprouted seed/grains and when I have TOO many eggs, I scramble up a bunch and feed to the flock and dogs. Lots of happy faces on those days. LOL
Makes for shiny feathers and shiny coats.

 

[centrarchid]

I provide a complete diet as well every day, despite birds free ranging. On rare days when complete diet not applied, the free range gets a lot bigger. If feed not applied for multiple days, range would extend into areas where predators could be a problem or alternative roosting locations sought.

 

[silkiechicken]

I always have food in the coop for them. You might get away without feeding them a fortified and "balanced" diet, but you might not get as much out of them. How much they can eat off your range also depends on the field they range in. One acre of desert or lawn won't give them nearly as much they could get out of let's say a meadow with a stream and access to your garden. LOL Silly chickens know where the good stuff is, I swear.

 

[jadebird]

We let our flock out as much as we can (but never unsupervised). They love it, munching up clover and bugs. They always have feed in the coop, though, and kitchen scraps everyday.

 

[GoldenSparrow]

Thanks everyone!
I do let mine free range, but we always watch for perdators.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

My 3 hens free range all the time, but I gave them scraps and feed in the afternoon.