I have several broody hens out with chicks scattered about over about 3 acres. Most of what they consume comes in the form of insects with liberal amounts of foliage and some seeds. They also get a small amount of chick starter 24% crude protein earlier in morning to keep them in where I can make early morning observations. Over last two days I began playing around with different type of eats normally reserved for hens in conditioning pens. I am giving the broods separate piles of millet, corn, and cherries in addition to the chick starter. They are going preferentially after the non-chick starter options. I think they are trying to increase the the amount of energy ingested relative to the amount of protein as the latter may actually be in excess of what is optimal. Such appears to be season which last until fall when insect forages crash and seeds become more abundant.
