At the time of that post I had a flock of 30 and occasionally, with the addition of temporary meat birds, that number would climb to 50 but that didn't happen often. Now I have 3 acres of meadow and a total of 18 acres of woodland, so they have better forage. I'll not be taking my flock much higher than 20-30, though, even with the exceptional forage we have here.
There is only so much protein per acre in the form of snakes, lizards, frogs, bugs and worms for active, all day foraging of a good foraging type flock of birds and once they deplete the area around the coop they range out further...the further they go out from the coop area, the further they are from the dog's guard area and the closer to danger, so I like to keep their forage area mostly in the 2 acres closest to the coop if I can.
I also overseed with white dutch clover here, as it has 22% digestible protein, depending on the season and time of day. Planting good forage and also planning good foraging opportunities along the wood line will also increase their chances to rely primarily on forage in the good months. We have natural habitat for snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, bugs, grubs and worms here in stacks of old lumber, brush piles, piles of old bricks and stone. I also create some habitat by placing old hay bales along the edges of the meadow, then tipping them over now and again to let the chickens harvest the worms there. Then, in a little while, I do it again.
Deep litter in the coop also provides more foraging opportunities as the bugs and worms rise to the nutrients to be found in that compost. Our garden waste is another source of forage for them, as is the pumpkins we grow and then let ferment for use in the winter.
There is only so much protein per acre in the form of snakes, lizards, frogs, bugs and worms for active, all day foraging of a good foraging type flock of birds and once they deplete the area around the coop they range out further...the further they go out from the coop area, the further they are from the dog's guard area and the closer to danger, so I like to keep their forage area mostly in the 2 acres closest to the coop if I can.
I also overseed with white dutch clover here, as it has 22% digestible protein, depending on the season and time of day. Planting good forage and also planning good foraging opportunities along the wood line will also increase their chances to rely primarily on forage in the good months. We have natural habitat for snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, bugs, grubs and worms here in stacks of old lumber, brush piles, piles of old bricks and stone. I also create some habitat by placing old hay bales along the edges of the meadow, then tipping them over now and again to let the chickens harvest the worms there. Then, in a little while, I do it again.
Deep litter in the coop also provides more foraging opportunities as the bugs and worms rise to the nutrients to be found in that compost. Our garden waste is another source of forage for them, as is the pumpkins we grow and then let ferment for use in the winter.
