Going 100% free range, advice?

[AllenK RGV]

My chicken are conditioning us sitting/sh on the front porch all day waiting for handouts. These are 4 month old fledged heritage hatchery stock with 3 roos and 5 hens. They have an endless supply of grass and bugs all year round. Full time access to water. We realize we could end up with a few losses but it is time for these babies to fly on their own.


Who else uses the pure grass fed method?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

You mean no coop? no feed just foraging?

Gary

 

[AllenK RGV]

You mean no coop? no feed just foraging?

Gary

Oh they have a coop, and can fly the Breed is Sumatra. They can choose the trees for roosts as well. Foraging only with extra scratch if it is going to get cold at all.

 

[Lalo Moreno]

Pure grass is not the best idea for egg production. I have a bantam who sleeps in my porch and free ranges all year round. As long as you have dogs or some other means of protection then you will be good. You also need a lush garden where they can escape the heat and predators.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Pure grass is not the best idea for egg production. I have a bantam who sleeps in my porch and free ranges all year round. As long as you have dogs or some other means of protection then you will be good. You also need a lush garden where they can escape the heat and predators.

They have been doing great at avoiding the hawks, yes they have loads of cover.

 

[rjohns39]

Even at 100% free range, birds need about 4.5oz of a balanced feed ration for each bird each day to maintain optimum egg production levels.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Even at 100% free range, birds need about 4.5oz of a balanced feed ration for each bird each day to maintain optimum egg production levels.

Ok thank you @rjohns39 I was thinking I'd turn the feeder into the oystershell OS supply. My wife is vegan our plan was is to simply let them be. It is just breaking our hearts as today is the day they are getting fledged so of course they are screaming at us.

Todays food was 4 Cucumbers, and about 5 minutes worth of FF still planning on tossing them 2oz(dry weight) of mung beans I started soaking this morning for em b4 putting them to bed.

 

[lazy gardener]

Do your homework on beans. Some beans need to be cooked in order to be safe to eat. I believe mung beans are fine if you just sprout them.

I agree with other posters that even if you provide good free range (that is not a typical back lawn!!!) they will still need a balanced feed ration. When my birds have access to free range with FF also provided, my girls eat .18 - .20 # of dry wt feed per bird per day. My mileage varies according to time of year, and how much free range time they get. These rates are achieved by feeding them in morning or mid day, and topping them off again late afternoon if their crops indicate they need more feed.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Oh yeah no citrus, mung beans are better if sprouted. They have been out of the brooder and coop trained for over 2 months now. I like interacting with them a lot. So I do lots of extras for them as well, like today set them loose on a small compost pile. But for the most part I'm not planning on supplementing with feed unless they need it.

 

[MillersFarm]

Some guy has over 600 chickens.. Doesn't feed them at all.