Free ranging vs. Feed

[cmtigger]

Quote:
And you have 30 acres, not a city backyard.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
And you have 30 acres, not a city backyard.

the chickens only roam on less than 2 acres. And thats 29 chickens. A few chickens in a city backyard will find a lot of food given the chance.

 

[cmtigger]

Quote:
And you have 30 acres, not a city backyard.

the chickens only roam on less than 2 acres. And thats 29 chickens. A few chickens in a city backyard will find a lot of food given the chance.

An entire city lot is often less than 1/3 of an acre, and generally manicured, if her location is correct. They can be bigger, but it's not common. I was on an acre in a rural area not far from there last time I had hens, they free ranged most of the time, but still depended on their layer feed in the morning and evening.

I actually wouldn't be as worried, except she's feeding them a lot of low nutrition things in addition to not much feed- like rice and fresh corn- and stated that they're noticably smaller than another group of chicks the same age. (while the size thing could be based on breed, if she's got a variety and her friend has a variety there should be some similarity between the two groups.) She also stated that she thought that starter feed was really just a supplement and that it might be good if she fed them less nutritious food so they laid less eggs.

 

[hansolo]

I am not as worried, just trying to understand why feed is better...

I don't know how much is a lot, brown rice and fresh corn sounds delicious to me I tried to feed them a mixture of grains and nuts: oatmeals, millets, cooked brown rice, sesame seeds, sun flower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and I plan to add more.
Somehow I am not convinced feed is better, other than that it is probably more balanced based on paper, but I'd rather eat whole foods than cliff bars or cereal mixes supplemented with protein and vitamine powders. I understand chickens needs are different than humans and want learn more on that, or example, I know people make their own feed with whole grains. I'd like to move towards that end.

I don't want to feed them less so they lay less eggs. I heard people say that free ranging chickens lay fewer eggs, but will lay longer, and quality of eggs might be better. I love eggs but my chickens will come first

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
exactly. Think of it this way...what would a chicken eat if it were on it's own? Probably the same things wild turkeys eat, Grouse, phesants etc eat. Wild grains, grasses, seed, nuts, etc. Wild free range foods. There is NOTHING I mean NOTHING real about processed chicken feed. It's as bad ad us humans eating highly processed foods. BUT, most everyone, including myself, leaves it out there as an option. If the chickens want a meal of processed food, it is there. But I find all my girls and boys prefer freerange food, and the produce more eggs that way as an added benefit.

 

[hansolo]

I just found a good read:
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Making-Poultry-Feeds-1.html

 

[cottagechick]

I figured I would revive instead of start a new topic on the same ole thing... I have been thinking. IF the chickens are free ranging 8-10 hours a day. I am talking 7 <2 pound bantams on 1/4 acre where there are lots of bugs and plants and they have access to food at all times if they want it, would it be better to give them the higher protein feed since they will not be relying on it as a sole source of food? I realize if they were ONLY eating the pellets it would be too much protein, but if the concern is they aren't getting ENOUGH protein by foraging...would the higher protein help or hurt?

 

[Arielle]

THis is a toss up.Depends on the number of eggs and size of eggs the hen is bred to lay.

Egg laying requires huge amounts of protein and calcium and other nutrients. THe standard 15-16% protein in a complete feed is low but the laying hens eat a huge amount of this feed when laying. I have one easter egger who provides us with 1 xlg egg a day. Basically a lot of nutrients go into making lots of eggs a week and of course larger eggs require a high level of nutrition. I'm trying to say it's all relative. SOme breeds give 2 eggs a week; other breeds up to 7. Some give peewees, some XLG. That's a big difference in nutrition.

All summer my girls, once laying, were grabbing every earthworm possible. THis was on top of grasses, commercial layer pellets, whole corn and oats, food scraps, grasshoppers, bugs, meat scraps. THey ate animal protein, greens, and grains. Commercial layer at 15% protein and 3% calcium, kept the egg count high.

In my region the weather is getting cooler, preparing for a cold and snowy winter. THe bugs are disappearing, worms are ignored, grass is well cropped (pun intended) and egg count is slowing (it's fall). THeir appetite decreases as the egg counts decrease. Now I'll give more gamebird at 20% protein at 1% calcium and put out calcium supplement like eggshells. Because their appetite is lower and the bugs are disaprearing, I like them having the higher protein% in the feed. THey can use the protein for eggs or to rebuild their body. Calcium is needed to replenish the calcium stores in their bones or make egg shells.

Animal protein requires a lesser amount to meet nutritional needs; plant proteins require more and more careful formulation to meet the individual amino acid requirement. Corn and soy; beans and rice. THese combos have the correct complementary aa for plant proteins. A little meat is very beneficial. ie insects, worms, moths, beef, fish,etc.

In general, the theory of commercial feeds is to provide all the nutrients needed for good production and generally good health using the cheapest feed stuff possible combined with a vit/min supplement and calcium. IMO, these feeds lack fresh vegetative matter and a meat source. These are chickens, not vegetarians. IMO 15% protein is too low without a meat source.

Hope I made sense. Good thread.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:
exactly. Think of it this way...what would a chicken eat if it were on it's own? Probably the same things wild turkeys eat, Grouse, phesants etc eat. Wild grains, grasses, seed, nuts, etc. Wild free range foods. There is NOTHING I mean NOTHING real about processed chicken feed. It's as bad ad us humans eating highly processed foods. BUT, most everyone, including myself, leaves it out there as an option. If the chickens want a meal of processed food, it is there. But I find all my girls and boys prefer freerange food, and the produce more eggs that way as an added benefit.

Maybe you need to find a new supplier. I buy mine from a local guy who grinds it from local grains. It smells so good, I wouldn't mind eating it.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I know what works for me; well balanced feed available all day, what ever they can find free ranging the yard, the occasional fruit or vegetable treat (pumpkin guts, melon rinds, rain split tomatoes), and BOSS and cracked corn if I need their attention for some reason.