Free ranging and wasted feed in spring/summer.

[Henriettamom919]

Long story short my girls free range an extremely varied acre of land (natural stream and wetland plus grassy yards and trees!) and now that summer's here they simply aren't eating as much commercial feed. The fermented feed they once were crazy for gets subtle pecks throughout the day and the constant dry available is nearly untouched every evening. I'm sowing uneaten feed into flower beds and pots for sprouts but the amount I'm using has increased a ton the last few weeks.

Eggs are gorgeous and daily, hens are healthy and pretty. My question is, can I stop offering the dry during the day? Aside from occasional produce scraps I've cut out ALL treats, even the morning oats they once loved (they weren't finishing those, either) and cut down on some of this waste? My other idea was to cut their pricey scratch and peck feed with a cheaper crumble and continue offering some dry that way.

What do you think?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My other idea was to cut their pricey scratch and peck feed with a cheaper crumble and continue offering some dry that way.

This would be my choice... but for a larger reason.

Too many cases have been reported from people using that beautiful feed of fatty liver syndrome... due to some hens being able to pick out only their favorite pieces such as the corn. In most cases these were Orpington type breeds... and most likely genetically predisposed in some way... and may have been given excess treats in addition.

I personally would cut the FF or maybe switch to just wetting it into a mash. FF tends to get "ripe" faster in summer and once too sour none of my birds would touch it. Anyways after doing only FF for two year... there was no savings to my flock and no difference in the health either. While fermenting MAY help those who are need... those who are already healthy won't benefit from it. Only thing fermenting did was give me fun experiment that wasted a LOT of my time.

Sounds like your pasture condition rocks!

 

[Henriettamom919]

This would be my choice... but for a larger reason.

Too many cases have been reported from people using that beautiful feed of fatty liver syndrome... due to some hens being able to pick out only their favorite pieces such as the corn. In most cases these were Orpington type breeds... and most likely genetically predisposed in some way... and may have been given excess treats in addition.

I personally would cut the FF or maybe switch to just wetting it into a mash. FF tends to get "ripe" faster in summer and once too sour none of my birds would touch it. Anyways after doing only FF for two year... there was no savings to my flock and no difference in the health either. While fermenting MAY help those who are need... those who are already healthy won't benefit from it. Only thing fermenting did was give me fun experiment that wasted a LOT of my time.

Sounds like your pasture condition rocks!

Thank you so much! I do feed corn free but you're right about picking out favorites. They really aren't going after the FF like they did in late winter/ early spring partially because it's no longer "new" and partially because there's so much in the way of seeding overgrowth and bugs, worms and snails. I'm kind of over it for the moment. The last batch went so slowly it really did mold between being around too long and heat (not yeast growth either; actual fuzzy grey mold) so a cut mash is sounding much easier!

And you're right, our acre was made for free ranging birds. It's orchard trees and huge conifers, grassy yards and garden beds and a shaded natural stream and wetland!

Well, as long as they're healthy I'm going back to eat it or don't. Cutting out treats has helped but I'm sick of throwing out literal dollars worth of feed.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Try putting some feed in a bowl and cover it completely with water. Mine free range all day, but love the soupy feed so much I'm afraid they're eating more than they did when I offered it dry. If there's any left over after multiple refills, I just give it to them the next day and it quickly disappears.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

I only have 11 adults and recently got 4 chicks. I feed FF and fodder and some scratch thrown in here and there. The adults were eating 2-3 cups of fermented feed in the winter, now with the nice weather and nice bugs and weeds and whatever else they are finding in the yard, they eat about 1 cup of FF and ~1/2 of barley turned into fodder. I make extra FF to store in the refrigerator for the days they can't get out to forage.

 

[Chickassan]

Go crumble S&P is over 30 dollars for 25 or 30lbs.
I feed Kalmbach crumbles 26 dollars for 50lbs and no kidding it smells delicious.
@HenOnAJuneBug is right, they love wet food. I found out accidentally after it rained but the food goes much further like that and they need more water in the summer anyway.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

This happened to me too. My chickens free range and do not get as excited with cracked corn or even the seeds they get. Worms and bugs are better. The only thing they still love of course is mealworms.. I still offer seeds and corn, but at a much smaller scale. Its out and ready for them to have before bed and while they wait for the coop door to open. Free ranging is a great way to save money if you can keep the hens safe