Successful 100% forage diet experiment (long post)

[AccidentalFarm]

One comment. When your neighbor was out shooting all day the birds sensed danger and were able to stay "hidden" until it passed. 1-day. The weather event, again, why would they get cold and wet? I think their instincts were spot on.

Thank you for the post. I am watching to see how it progresses. Very interesting.

I'm not sure I understand the question?

 

[Krazikatlady64]

I'm not sure I understand the question?

No question. Comment that the birds survival instincts kicked in to keep them form foraging where danger was. They stayed "safe".

 

[AccidentalFarm]

No question. Comment that the birds survival instincts kicked in to keep them form foraging where danger was. They stayed "safe".

Ohh okay. Yes, it does seem be what happened. I did notice that today they kept themselves to the opposite direction from where the shooting was going on before. I guess they haven't forgotten about it yet?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

The temps up here in RI warmed up into the mid-40's today, so my flock got a delivery of about 12-15 barrels of leaves raked up from the neighbors yard. There's enough little bits of grass, weeds, and who-knows-what in there to keep them busy scratching and snacking for hours!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

The temps up here in RI warmed up into the mid-40's today, so my flock got a delivery of about 12-15 barrels of leaves raked up from the neighbors yard. There's enough little bits of grass, weeds, and who-knows-what in there to keep them busy scratching and snacking for hours!

I bet they LOVED that!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I bet they LOVED that!

They did...not enough to help carry barrels, but they sure jumped right in and start scratching!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

They did...not enough to help carry barrels, but they sure jumped right in and start scratching!

Okay, I just have to say that looks like a fine pile of leaves! I want to jump in it!!!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Okay, I just have to say that looks like a fine pile of leaves! I want to jump in it!!!

Ha ha...you'll want to reconsider that...under those leaves are plenty of manure, rotting food waste, old bedding, etc.

Doesn't stop by 4-year old daughter, though...

 

[PhillyDelcoChix]

This was a very interesting read! Well done on the article!
I too believe that free ranging is the best for chickens to be happy, healthy, and well fed the way they would be as wild birds.
I was free ranging them, in our fenced back yard in suburbia. However a fox killing my most prized golden Marin named “honey” and alas they are back to the safety of their large run.
However I am bringing in kitchen scraps, sprouted seeds, as well as their organic feed and water of course.
The question I have is are you collecting the eggs daily that they’re laying in the forest? If it’s over 50 acres, I feel there must be a lot lost or eaten by predators. Are these meat birds? I feel like the loss of these eggs for eating or selling is a big loss personally. Our birds are only layers and the eggs being a constant component of our meals of my family of 6.
I apologize if this has already been asked. I read through several pages of comments but that’s as far as I could get.
Thanks and keep on doing the natural thing!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

This was a very interesting read! Well done on the article!
I too believe that free ranging is the best for chickens to be happy, healthy, and well fed the way they would be as wild birds.
I was free ranging them, in our fenced back yard in suburbia. However a fox killing my most prized golden Marin named “honey” and alas they are back to the safety of their large run.
However I am bringing in kitchen scraps, sprouted seeds, as well as their organic feed and water of course.
The question I have is are you collecting the eggs daily that they’re laying in the forest? If it’s over 50 acres, I feel there must be a lot lost or eaten by predators. Are these meat birds? I feel like the loss of these eggs for eating or selling is a big loss personally. Our birds are only layers and the eggs being a constant component of our meals of my family of 6.
I apologize if this has already been asked. I read through several pages of comments but that’s as far as I could get.
Thanks and keep on doing the natural thing!

When I find a nest, I mark the eggs that are there and then start collecting the new eggs over the next few days. They always figure out what I'm up to after a few days and end up abandoning the nest and then I have to start searching again. I am not really concerned with collecting eggs from this foraging flock. I am more interested in watching and learning from them in this free ranging experiment.

They do have the freedom to roam over the full 50 acres, but they don't. I'd say they are staying within about a 10 acre area. That is still way too much area to search for eggs!

I do have an older, separate flock that I still get eggs from. We don't eat many eggs, (I don't even like eggs at all), and I don't sell them so it's okay that I don't find all of them.

No worries about asking questions! I don't mind answering