Q. Must I feed them, or can they just free range in my yard?
A. Chickens do consume many of the essential nutrients required through foraging, however the diversity of a normal backyard ecosystem is poor, and most climates also limit grazing opportunities many months of the year. What you should know is that studies show the grass they eat lowers the cholesterol of the yolk, and raises the Omega fatty acids- what a bonus!
Whether feeding organic or generic premixed feed, chickens do well to have their diets augmented with greens and vegertables, though not all foods safe for humans are chicken-safe. Also, remember that scratch grains are only to be used in small amounts, as they are significantly lower in protein than a laying hen needs for good production- it's more of a snack. Lastly, feed-store or generic brand feeds are often just the bare minimum of what your birds really require, and it helps to use poultry conditioner or game bird feed occasionally or mixed in to kick up the value of that bagged feed.
