Put feed away while birds are free ranging?

[nbenevento]

I have been going through feed like crazy. I free range my chickens but it seems that they are getting lazy lately. When I go out to check on them through the day, they are at the feeders instead of eating grass and bugs! What do you all think about putting the feeders away during the day, forcing them to actually forage for food?

 

[Jordi15]

I can't free range my chickens all day so what I do is feed them in the morningaround 7, then I go out around 2-3pm pick up all the feeders and open the door and off they go looking for bugs. They don't get their food back til the next morning. I do have a protein quail block hanging in there at all times tho and sometimes they come in and peck at it and then leave again.

 

[nbenevento]

I can't free range my chickens all day so what I do is feed them in the morningaround 7, then I go out around 2-3pm pick up all the feeders and open the door and off they go looking for bugs. They don't get their food back til the next morning. I do have a protein quail block hanging in there at all times tho and sometimes they come in and peck at it and then leave again.

Ok, thanks. That makes me feel better about limiting their access to he feed.