The chicks won't eat their feed now that they free range

[exbiologist]

Since I've been letting the chicks free range, (the last 3 weeks or so-they are 8 and 9 weeks old), they've hardly touched their feed. Should I assume that they are getting all they need and more outside? If I were to guess, I'd assume the forages they find outside would be short on a few vitamins and amino acids. I was trying to supplement them with 28% meatbird feed to make up for the lower quality diet. I'm not concerned about the crude protein intake as they seem to be able to make up for quality with quantity.
I guess one other reason I was concerned was because it's been a cold spring, with very few bugs out yet.
Am I worrying too much?

 

[HenPen]

Yup your worrying to much if they were hungry they would eat the feed...

 

[gritsar]

I disagre that what they find by foraging is deficient in vitamins and minerals. What they find is better quality nutrition in that its fresh and just what they need. Chickens are very good about regulating their nutritional intake when given a choice of food/forage.

 

[Imp]

What Gritsar said x2.

Mine eat little feed spring and summer.

Imp- Now the squirrels are making up for the chickens

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Don't worry. My girls eat less feed between spring and fall. With all the weed seeds, bugs and grubs (my veggie garden!!), they get everything they need when they are out free-ranging

 

[Debob]

They will eat if their hungry,try some treats if your worried.

 

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
You are worrying way to much. They are getting a natural chicken diet, they are getting what they should be getting. I disagree with what you say about it being a lower quality diet, the diet they are getting now will beat anything that comes out of a bag. They are getting a much more healthy diet since they are outside. When they begin to lay eggs you will see a big difference in the yolk they lay verses eggs not on range. I free range my flock and they hardly eat out of the feeder and I still get the same amount of eggs. Everything is cool with your chickens.....

. Just my two cents.

 

[exbiologist]

Thanks for the responses everyone, but natural isn't always better. When I say lower quality forages, I am not referring to freshness or sustainability or "organicness". Chickens free ranging in a temperate climate, making due with seasonal availability and quality of forage is very unnatural. While I'm not in any way hoping to profit from their productivity, I do hope to have them grow their best within reason. As a former wildlife biologist, I've fought this idea that nature will take care of itself all my life. Nature doesn't take care of itself when you have any sort of expectation from it. By that line of thinking, I shouldn't be wasting my money by offerring them any feed at all. Domesticated breeds of chickens are unnatural also, growing far larger than primitive jungle fowl are capable of, and producing far more eggs. What I don't understand is the workings of the chicken digestive system, and whether it is say, like a horse, who as a hindgut fermenter, can make up for lower quality (ie. low protein, high fiber) forage with large quantities. I know for a fact deer can starve to death with a belly full of grass, and just because my chickens are full, it doesn't mean they are getting all they need while growing.
Anyway, thanks again.

 

[lavacaw]

Just as a farm can have too many cows grazing for the acreage and decent grasses available, you can have too many chickens in a yard. This being said, if the chickens were not getting enough to eat, they would be eating the feed you provide. I look forward to mine being able to free range as it cuts my feed bill by about 1/3. Keep feed supplied and they will eat what they need. Hope this helps.

 

[Warthog]

I have 40 chicks all of them free range all day. I have have seen it posted on here and other sites that they need about 4oz of bagged food a day.

I thought mine are eating nothing like this, so a few days ago I did some calculations they are averaging 1.8oz per day. They are healthy and producing eggs really well.

Yestersday I was out most of the day, so I keep them in their pen when I am out and give them extra food. Which they just scratch about all over the floor.

So I say don't worry, free range is the best, they will eat what they need and won't starve.