Sorry if this has been discussed....Free Range, organic....

[NewInCentralIowa]

I got through a ton of the posts(which led me to join) but didn't see any answers to my question...

I would like to raise free range, organic chickens. I have 10 acres for them to graze along with Zebu cattle. Do I need to supplement their grazing with grain or is there enough nutrients in the pasture? Thanks for all your help and apologize if this is a silly question. I am new to this.....

Pete

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Free range will dramatically decrease your feed costs when the range is green. If you get snow cover, they are toast in winter without food.

Even with free ranging, they require good protein and grain sources to be nice 'n healthy, IMO.

They can SURVIVE maybe on just foraging, but if you want good egg supplies and health, it is best to offer a poultry ration. Kitchen scraps are good on top of the ration.

Layers usually require 16% protein at least, and you can find organic layer pellets for sale most likely. I buy them some for treats (see my BYC page if you are interested in my feed mix). Also I buy organic chick starter for the first 6 weeks of life.

 

[Lurkeygirl2011]

I don't know if I can tell you the correct answer. I am going to experiment with rotating 100 chickens with cattle this summer. So, as I get more into it I may have more answers. I have a five acre pasture and 4 jersey cows, I have the pasture divided into 16 paddocks that the cows will be on for two days before moving to the next one. My plan is to move the chickens 3 days behind the cows because I think that is when the cow parasites will be coming out of the cow pies.

I think it depends on how many chickens you are planning to free-range. If you are using them for meat birds you may want to supplement them with some grain so they get a little bigger... and it is worth your time to butcher them. You can probably use how far they are roaming as an indicator of how much food they are going to need. My chickens free-range and when they start going into dangerous places (tall grass, untrimmed fence lines) I give them some feed to encourage them to stay closer to home.

Another thing to consider is that putting food in the coop will remind the chickens why they like to come home to it at night. Maybe try putting the food out only in the afternoon.

 

[Laigaie]

Here, my local natural foods co-op sells organic chicken feed (loose grain). You might be able to find something like that in your area, and, if not, mix your own for pretty cheap. If you're selling these for meat or raising them for eggs, you'll want to go ahead and also feed, in order to increase production. When they're just foraging, they can't always get enough diversity in their diet.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
That is literally, as far as timing goes, the exact method Joel Salatin employs at his face, Polyface. 3 days behind the cows is apparently the perfect amount of time for the larvae and whatnot in the cow pies to be big and yummy to the chickens!

I'm jealous OP, I wish we had enough land to do rotational grazing.