free range: forest vs. pasture?

[souped]

Most of the free range post I see on here discuss pasture. I plan to free range my birds, while they will have many acres to roam the vast majority of it is wooded, there is a very limited area of grass. I am wondering if the dietary benefits of free ranging will apply if I chose a breed(s) that forages well in a primarily forested area? Would I need to import lawn clippings? Cover crop clover in my available pasture?

Thank you in advance for your shared knowledge.

 

[Illia]

I always use the term pasture because, well, it's a fenced in area that the chickens share with a Yak and goats. . . But really, mine is actually on the edge of a forest, and itself is a logged clearcut. There's hardly much grass beyond what you see when you look at the first bit of it (which is a tiny section) but there's still plenty nutrition from the bugs that hide in everything as well as all the seeds that lay around. I've been seeding my place with a lot of stuff though, so yes I do think you should try planting some more stuff in there, but you're not too bad off. It is MUCH more healthy than just keeping your chickens in a run.

I've been seeding my place with grass, wheat, amaranth, quinoa, flax, oats, sunflowers, millet, and mullein.

btw -

from Washington!

 

[Tala]

lots of ticks, bugs, spiders, worms, etc. make their homes in the woods and leaves, plus the chickens love scratching around in the leaves.
Most of us have our chickens on grass because they are "backyard" chickens

 

[Beekissed]

They will probably glean just as much, or more, nutrition in a woodlot than they would on pasture...more protein there!

 

[souped]

Thanks Illia for the input, I have seen how goats will 'maintain' an area.

I literally am in the woods so not many options as far as planting (except small section), nor am I fenced. Good to here they would benefit, nonetheless. And thank you for the welcome. Love this site, I don't even have the birds yet and I am already an addict.

 

[souped]

Great news!

Tala- My backyard is yardless.

Beekisssed- GLEAN= impressive word.

thank you, thank you.

 

[embkm]

I wanted to let my chickens have free run of the wooded area in my backyard. Unfortunately, the woods are also home to a very large Hawk and its hungry family. So my chickens are spoiled and get their bugs hand delivered.

 

[cybercat]

My range now in our woods due to the heat here. They spend most of their time in them now. We have alot of under growth in them also so they have lots to eat and hide in. I would not worry about them finding enough as you should have feed out for them also.

 

[souped]

yes, embkm, I am definitely concerned about the hawks. I read that guineas were good hawk spotters, but I really don't want guineas. I was thinking I could 'adopt' some of the local crow population to minimize this threat. Anyone know if this is feasible? Thanks again, all.

 

[Lollipop]

Heck, I`d be worried more about coons, foxes, etc. than their diet. Just because you may not see them, doesn`t mean they aren`t there. Good luck........Pop