Is commercial feed enough on its own?

[jenn-]

I have a crossbeak that has a difficult time with getting the extras that her flock mates get. Free ranging she scratches and carries on, but never actually gets anything. She is top dog so it is an inability and not that they won't let her. If all she ever eats is her half grower/half layer feed (soon to be all layer feed as they are all squatting), is it enough nutritionally to be healthy?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes the commercial feed from a nationally named brand will be a balanced ration for the chickens. If that is all you feed them they will have a balanced diet. She will be fine if that is all she eats. I suspect she is picking up more than you think outside though. They are pretty adaptable, especially when it comes to food.

Many of us like to let them forage for some of their food. I sure do. When you do that you lose the ability to micromanage their nutrition. They seem to be able to manage that pretty well themselves.

The biggest risk of an unbalanced diet is when we house them where they cannot forage and we feed then excess treats. The general rule of thumb in those circumstances is that the treats should not form more than 10% of their diet. That way the balanced diet they get from the commercial feed will not be upset.