Trying to reduce feed-cost with free ranging, will it work?

[Jesus solano]

For a while now, we've been trying to find ways to reduce how much feed we give our chickens. Every time I entered the run, they would run towards me, does that mean they are hungry, or just expecting treats? I don't know, I always though they were STARVING, so I gave them some feed. Anyways, after a while, we started to free-range them. It actually did help reducing the feed, they started eating less. They ate grass, fruits and so forth. We also stopped buying grit since there were rocks in our driveway.

As you can imagine, our hens lay eggs. Well sometimes the hens lay to much, so we boil the eggs, crush them, and feed it to them every 2-3 days (egg shell included). We also sometimes give them left-overs. I've been thinking for a while and after all that they eat, should I even buy them feed?

Now I'm not sure, what do you guys think? That would be awesome! Having chickens for pretty much free, and the benefits of delicious eggs. Now I know its almost winter and it will snow soon, but next year I may try this.

 

[azygous]

It all depends on where you live. If you're in the desert where living things are scarce, your chickens will starve if they aren't fed a poultry feed.

Ideally, you can see your feed bill go lower when you live where chickens can be pastured on loamy soil where moderate rainfall encourages, not only vegetation growth, but decomposition which includes lots of insects.

Even if you live in a jungle paradise, you will still need to feed a balanced feed to make up for any shortfall.

 

[lazy gardener]

Simply buy them a balanced feed. Let them enjoy their free range, and feed them later in the day. They will free range, but eat as much of the balanced feed as they need. Many free range situations are not adequate to meet the needs of a flock.

 

[rjohns39]

For optimum performance (min feed/max production) using a grass based system (aka free range), each hen will need about 4.5 ounces of feed per day. This, of course, assumes a well mixed and lush pasture. Short answer is that letting them free range should reduce feed consumption, but as LG said, you still need to provide a balanced ration.

 

[Jesus solano]

I see, so feeding them once a day? Man, I was hoping to have chickens for free lol.

 

[Krazyquilts]

For a while now, we've been trying to find ways to reduce how much feed we give our chickens. Every time I entered the run, they would run towards me, does that mean they are hungry, or just expecting treats? I don't know, I always though they were STARVING, so I gave them some feed. Anyways, after a while, we started to free-range them. It actually did help reducing the feed, they started eating less. They ate grass, fruits and so forth. We also stopped buying grit since there were rocks in our driveway.

As you can imagine, our hens lay eggs. Well sometimes the hens lay to much, so we boil the eggs, crush them, and feed it to them every 2-3 days (egg shell included). We also sometimes give them left-overs. I've been thinking for a while and after all that they eat, should I even buy them feed?

Now I'm not sure, what do you guys think? That would be awesome! Having chickens for pretty much free, and the benefits of delicious eggs. Now I know its almost winter and it will snow soon, but next year I may try this.

Our main laying flock free-ranges, but laying eggs takes a lot of a hen so I always keep their feed bowl full. They do eat some feed but not nearly as much as as our pastured poultry. A few months ago, I didn't realize that their feed bowl just had the powdery mineral stuff left in and since their previous owner had clipped their beaks (poor babies!), it was too fine for them to eat. Their eggs started getting wrinkled shells and rather strange looking, which turns out can be related to poor nutrition which I checked on their feed and realized my mistake. As soon as I moved their bowl to the front of their coop where it is super easy for me to carefully inspect and make sure it is refilled properly, their eggs went back to normal.

 

[lazy gardener]

I see, so feeding them once a day? Man, I was hoping to have chickens for free lol.

No, even with the best free range, you will still have to feed them. You can do a lot to cut your feed costs, but even that takes work.

Fermented feed, growing good free range areas and plants for them, raising meal worms or black soldier fly larvae, harvesting FRESH road kill, growing sprouts or fodder, Deep composting litter in their run, or even a nice well managed compost pile. Collecting excess food materials from local stores or restaurants, spent grains from a brewery. All of these things can cut your costs, but must be managed well while constantly assessing the health of your flock.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I have a lot of free rangers. But I still feed them conventional grain w/calcium for egg quality.

Also because they are free ranged, I have been providing less feed lately because predators feed on my birds. Thus less feed.

Providing a food source will also train them not to range off your property.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

No, even with the best free range, you will still have to feed them. You can do a lot to cut your feed costs, but even that takes work.

Fermented feed, growing good free range areas and plants for them, raising meal worms or black soldier fly larvae, harvesting FRESH road kill, growing sprouts or fodder, Deep composting litter in their run, or even a nice well managed compost pile. Collecting excess food materials from local stores or restaurants, spent grains from a brewery. All of these things can cut your costs, but must be managed well while constantly assessing the health of your flock.

 

[venymae]

When we had free ranging birds, we still gave them free access to unlimited layer feed and oyster shell. In high summer and early fall, we went through a lot less feed than in mid winter, but they did still eat it. Allow them to free range by all means, but still offer a balanced food. If your chooks get lazy (my dads did) then only offer feed in the afternoon, so that they will free range in the morning, but still get enough.