free ranging and feeding young chicks

[Agricola]

I have read on here that many folks let their chickens start free ranging around 4-8 weeks old. For those who do, how well do they forage at that age? Does their feed consumption drop? Do you continue to give them starter/grower feed as a supplement?

My three week olds are starting to look interested in scratching, and it is certainly warm enough around here, so I think I will let them out into their pasture soon.

 

[gritsar]

My chicks started foraging at 2 1/2 weeks old. I still kept chick starter available at all times.
The foraging was more for the experience and learning at that age, not so much about feeding themselves.

 

[Super Admin]

Wow, 2 1/2 weeks? That seems early. I would love for my chick to go outside to forage that early....

 

[austinhart123]

ya i would be carefull they can get taken by foxes and hawks or get lost, i would wait till they are almost full grown

 

[Cats Critters]

I started mine at about 6-7wks I would watch them and herd them back up when I had to leave, and as they got bigger and I got less worried they got to stay out longer and with me leaving them alone. And at about 14-15wks they free-ranged most of they day and the only one every lost was a pullet at about 16-17wks who just went missing. But with the broodys they start free-ranging at about 3 days.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Mine start going out at just a couple weeks old too with the rest of the chickens unless with a broody, then she takes them out at 2 days old. They do just like the adults, go back in at dark. Nothing here really bothers the chicks. Mine have fresh water and crumbles available to eat too if they choose.

They free range fine and love learning how to hunt bugs

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
They were under close supervision at that age. As they grew they got less and less supervision. If you think about it, Mama Hen does much the same thing.
Now as adults, my birds free range all day. All my chicks will be raised the same way. It's worked very well for us and my chickens are healthy and have alot of "chicken sense" - know when to run for cover, etc.

 

[Agricola]

Thanks for the replies! It sounds like at the younger ages they still get most of their food from the feeder. When do they start "filling up" on their forage and eating less feed?

 

[uggatrip]

After 2 or 3 days my chickens leave the nest, I still kept chick starter available, but they love the bugs!

When the night comes during the first 2 weeks they still go to the nest, then they go to the trees, their favorite spot, all my 23 bantams live in a plum tree, eheh!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
To answer your question simply, I guess mine were about five months old when I noticed a significant drop in the amount of food they were consuming.
By then, they were free ranging most of the day.