How much food should free range chickens need from you?

[Tired old Rooster]

That is it. I have four three month old hens and they eat less than a cup of food per day. They have a big space that they are free to range on and it is part forest, part jungle, with some open lawn areas. Are they capable of eating their fill in a full day of foraging?

 

[nuthatched]

Unless you have feral flocks of chickens in your area, likely not.
maybe keep them in for a bit in the morning so they eat a bit more feed?

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

If you’re on a legitimate rural farm with acreage (around 2 acres), with a mix of grasses, weeds, and overgrowth fence-line or woodlot habitat, then they can absolutely find all of the food they need, not considering if you live in a climate with severe winters.

I provide my free range flock with 3.5% of their daily food needs. They find the rest for themselves. I have hard freezes a few times a year but no snow. Consideration should be similar across North America in the non-cold months.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

If you have feed available for them and they free range what sounds to be good forage they'll take feed when they want. Winter here they consume a little more as the bugs, snakes, frogs and greens are not available.