Here, chickens are eating mixed grain, corn and crumbles.
Feeding Chickens is a Huge Event
Sometimes my chickens free range. Sometimes they eat out of a flat pan(on rain days) and a lot of the time they eat from a 5 gallon drop-down feeder. A couple of times a week, I open all of the run doors and the whole flock barrels out to kick up the pine straw and peck the ground . This is an adventurous day for all involved; even me. I’m happy for them and they are happy to have this free time. Each are in search of a new and different diet. While corn and grain are provided to them on a daily basis, it’s always good to allow them to live off the land and eat their most favorite foods. They are seeking insects, seeds and very often green plants.
I know they even like certain kinds of grass because so often I’ve seen a hen begin to ravage a grassy green area. It totally delights me to watch the entire flock spend time enjoying themselves on the fat of the land. They run hither and fro. They sample here and there. It’s just such a delight to see.
According to wilderness-survial.net, there are plants dangerous to chickens such as hemlock, nettle, and foxglove. There are also those plants that are toxic such as: clover, alfalfa, daffodil, buttercup, lamb”s quarters, milkweed, philodendron, tulips and wild onion. Obviously, I am certain my free range area is free from those plants.
When my hens began eating my beautiful begonia plants that I had put all around to make the barnyard area nice and attractive, it was obvious to me those plants had to be placed in a high place. I have since put the plants above the height of my pets so they cannot reach them. While I have coleus near to the ground, they don’t tend to like those as much. Sometimes I think I should raise those as well though.
Most of all, my free rangers enjoy best the thick layers of straw beneath the pine trees. They scratch and murmur all the day long and appear happy, happy, happy. When they are happy, I am happy.
While I do offer grain, scratch, crumbles and pellets, I make a serious effort to offer several free range times during the week for the entire flock. Happiness goes both ways.