To Medicate or Not to Medicate?

[cmom]

good idea...

 

[Shadrach]

I would love to! Not sure about all the do's and don'ts though, please feel free to share tips n tricks. I have one acre of land with no fencing is that large enough? My neighbor had chickens (only one of 7 left) with no fences, they managed to stay on their own side somehow. Now their only Chicken loves coming to visit us every day, all day. Hoping a fenceless yard will work for us as well.
Please advise.

I would be a little concerned about your flock intermingling with your neighbors. While they may share common ground and thus be exposed any pathogens there, your neighbor may bring in other chickens, or new pathogens. Something for you to think about maybe.
I free range here.
I have never bought chick starter grit.
I have never bought grit for adults.
The chicks here are out on natural ground within 24 hours of hatching usually. Mum takes them out as soon as she’s done sitting.
If you are prepared to sit and watch them (watch for predators and for signs of them getting cold) then my view is the more time they can spend out and about the more likely they are to adapt to free ranging later if that’s what you decide to do.
I have tried providing calcium for the hens here but they’re not interested. Their eggs are fine so I assume they get all the calcium they need from foraging and their normal commercial feed.
Obviously chicks don’t need extra calcium and neither do pullets until they start to lay eggs.