Treats v. feed

[Coop Z-ville]

My chickens don't free range. That's why I thought I needed to forage for them and provide them with some raw vegetable matter. I give them kitchen scraps/peelings, shredded cabbage ('cause Trader Joe's makes that convenient and relatively cheap), raw pumpkin ('cause I've still got a few on the vine), garden trimmings and weeds. And then some occasional BOSS and mealworms or some cooked egg when my husband doesn't finish his brekkie and if my cat doesn't finish her canned food I take them that as well.

I skip starchy things like bread, rice and potatoes -- though the occasional cooked bits turn up when I scrape plates. And if I have corn on the cobb -- which isn't often -- I'll let them pick at the whole thing.

My girls don't free range either-one of the few flocks who doesn't. They have a roomy coop, but stay outside most of the time in their roomier pen that is totally roofed and secure (electric fencing around it and dig proof. We have sooo many predators, but the ones I worry about most are the hawks and eagles. Having a beloved bird torn apart by one of these winged predators is not what I want for my small flock. So I am always looking for ways to imitate that foraging that they would get outside the pen. Any other suggestions than those given would be appreciated.
BTW, I was thinking a couple of my girls were getting a little chunky (my BAs), but when I picked them up to weigh them, I found it was all feathers! They're definitely ready for our cold winter!

 

[IamRainey]

I just use what I have available and, like you, try to imagine what they would be going for if they could forage freely.

When I'm pulling weeds, I hang onto them to throw in the run. My chickens really like trimmings of the nasturtiums that grow rampant in my yard. I give them what the rats leave of my tomatoes and peppers. My herbs also are in constant need of trimming back. I think those must be good for chickens. Then I supplement that with dried meal worms.

 

[Coop Z-ville]

Sounds good to me. I planted lemon balm in my garden (plus a few other herbs I read were good for chickens that didn't make it). The lemon balm is actually still growing a bit under the snow, and the girls absolutely go crazy for it. I hold a bunch in my hand and they nip off the leaves, like they would if they were in the garden.

 

[MissChick@dee]

The keel bone is the breast bone between their upper legs. You should be able to feel it but if it’s pronounced (feels sharp or sticking out) they are under weight.
You should be able to feel meat to either side (with bone in the middle.) There’s charts on line helpful to look up.
It’s not the best way to weigh chickens but I have a great digital scale. I weigh myself first then I pick up my hens. It gives me a rough idea of their weight. I cut back (way back) on treats and they Gained Weight. Some it was .8 or half a pound.