Only providing feed in the afternoon?

[Isamama]

So I've always left full feeders in my coop 24hrs/day. But I'm reading that some people only give their birds access to feed for a few hours in the afternoon/evening if they are free ranging during the day. How can I do that? Will they really get enough to eat that way? I have 4 laying hens, 7 six week old chicks that will be joining them in the coop soon, and 3 baby chicks arriving today, because chicken math, you know?

 

[Peppercorngal]

I leave food out in the runs 24/7 too. The chickens all eat at different times I have noticed. The 10 week olds eat early in the morning (as soon as I open the coop doors), but the older chickens go out to free range first and eat the pellet food later. I am leaving the food out 24/7, they don't overeat and I want to be sure it's there when one of them wants it. I have 43 chickens now.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I'm treating my chickens like it's a prison war camp for now...... 1 small ration in the morning, and 1 later in the afternoon near dusk. Enough to keep them alive, I'm not one to spoil in these trying times!