How to confirm acceptable nutrition when free ranging?

Chickens need a pasture with high biodiversity of flora and wild herbs and flowers that attract bugs to have benefits from free ranging.
Let them free range just a few hours in the afternoon and see if the situation improves.
For richer yolks try feeding them fresh chilies. For omega 3, feed them either whole flaxseeds or whole hemp seeds as treat.
Flax meal is a scam, omega3 will oxidize and be destroyed as soon as the seed is broken if not kept refrigerated and away from oxygen.
In the US, Bob’s Red Mill company sells whole flaxseed and hulled hempseed hearts. <-(don’t know if those count.)

It’s sold widely in grocery stores, not just at Whole Paycheck Foods and health food stores.
 
I would not judge your eggs based on the first few eggs. It can take a few eggs for your girls to work out all kinks of being new layers. It will also take a few days for the new food to have any effect on your eggs. As for whether they are grazing too much, you can observe them for a few days to see if they stay outside or if they return to eat throughout the day. I know when my flock was free ranging, they would return to the coop multiple times during to day to snack from the feeder before going out into the yard to forage. I have had them in the run for the last month due to a hawk moving in next door, but they aren't eating a whole lot more food than when they were free ranging most of the day.
 
So just to make sure I read this right—they have feed from 9 pm to 9 am? So they probably have access to feed for a couple hours in the morning before they go out?
Yes, some clarification is needed please. I read this as they are locked in the run with food and water from 9pm to 9am. Then from 9am to 9pm the door is open and they have the option to forage or return to the run for food and water.
 
So just to make sure I read this right—they have feed from 9 pm to 9 am? So they probably have access to feed for a couple hours in the morning before they go out?

Yes, some clarification is needed please. I read this as they are locked in the run with food and water from 9pm to 9am. Then from 9am to 9pm the door is open and they have the option to forage or return to the run for food and water.
This is correct. They have access to food and water 24/7, but are allowed outside the run from roughly 9AM-9PM daily, getting shorter now that the days are getting shorter. The door is left open so they can go back into the run/coop for food/water or to lay if they want to.
 
Our flock of 4 has just started laying
As @RubelliteRose said, it's too early to judge them. Re-evaluate when they are all laying regularly.
The yolk is an average yellow color,
The colour of the yolk is determined by carotenoids eaten; chickens can't synthesize these substances themselves. So what you feed determines directly the colour of the yolks in the eggs your hen lays. There are many sources of carotenoids, including grass.
They are kept in our fenced in backyard, which is about 5k sq ft of just turf grass, and a small garden. Not much to eat besides the grass, and whatever bugs they find.
Just turf grass is a sort of desert food-wise. Very little to eat. Very little diversity. Most things that can move on to better pastures, will. Your chickens won't bother to forage much in it because they soon learn that they won't find much in it. They will depend very heavily on the feed you supply.
 
This is correct. They have access to food and water 24/7, but are allowed outside the run from roughly 9AM-9PM daily, getting shorter now that the days are getting shorter. The door is left open so they can go back into the run/coop for food/water or to lay if they want to.
Realistically then, they have feed available from 6 am’ish until 9, because it’s very unlikely that they’re eating at night. So I agree; maybe keep them in a little longer in the mornings as the days shorten.
 
Hmmm…well. I suspect this odd feed schedule is the culprit somehow. Chickens don’t eat at night so they don’t need food in their coop 24/7. Or water for that matter. What kind of feeder do you have? I had to remove all feeders and even waterers at night to keep pests away from it.
 
Hmmm…well. I suspect this odd feed schedule is the culprit somehow. Chickens don’t eat at night so they don’t need food in their coop 24/7. Or water for that matter. What kind of feeder do you have? I had to remove all feeders and even waterers at night to keep pests away from it.
I am not sure what's odd about the schedule. They just have food and water access at all times. I'm not removing the feeder or anything. They have a 3 gallon nipple style waterer, and a 12 lbs hanging feeder that is about 8" off the ground. We're in a suburban location, and pests have not been a problem. The feeder is protected from the elements, I don't see any benefit in removing their food.
 
It was previously Nutrena Nature Smart Chick Starter/Grower crumble, 20% protein, organic.

We just recently (meaning this past Saturday, 3 days ago), switched them to Kalmbach All Natural Non-GMO Flock Maker crumble, 20% protein. I'm also mixing a small amount (2.5 lbs per 50 lbs of feed) of Manna Pro Omega Egg Maker into this feed.
So they're not getting layer feed or any supplemental calcium like oyster shell?
 

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