Free run and happy

The last week or so I have been letting out my flock of 15 birds out into the yard to free run. They are loving it. I have two cats and there are four other farm cats around which I was worried about. Turns out they are so used to each other by now neither the cats nor the chickens pay much attention to each other.
I have a lawn chair outside my coop where I sit to enjoy my chickens and the cats sit under it while the chickens rove all around it. There are some big hawks around, but they could pick them off in the run anyway so while the hazard is higher it was never non existent. Only one poor little mille Fleur booted bantam seems to be under the weather, I have been massaging her crop but it feels OK at least as far as my knowledge goes.
I read about Flicker Chicks rooster, I hope this isn't happening to her. I am going to bring her in tonight and keep her in, I was thinking of offering her some of the medicated chick feed I am currently feeding my chicks or is this not a good idea?
I have read that free run on good pasture plus free choice scratch is the best possible diet, the chickens will take in the perfect diet for themselves. Obviously the disadvantage is safety and I know I will lose a few eggs, but it is nice to see them so happy.
I want to replace the two little bantam roosters for my two big faverolle roosters which are not free running now, but I have to find a home for the booted bantams first. They are fiesty little things.

You won't necessarily lose any eggs by letting them out. My hens are all so used to laying in their nest boxes after being shut in all winter, they go back into the coop to lay.

I only lost eggs last fall after introducing new hens to the laying flock. Messed with their little minds, and even the old hens started laying out in the bushes. But again, everything's working well again after the winter!

nuthatch333 wrote:
I have read that free run on good pasture plus free choice scratch is the best possible diet, the chickens will take in the perfect diet for themselves.

Do you mean no layer ration? just pasture and scratch?

Mine all go boogying back to the coop to lay as well. It is quite funny to watch.

I really hope your little bantam doesn't have sour crop. My rooster went from happy and healthy to lethargic and on death's doorstep in three days. It was that fast. How is she acting? Is she eating/pooping? Do you add ACV to their water? Cultured yogurt is good too. I'd keep the gentle massage up, just be careful not to do it so hard as to induce vomitting. I've learned that is very dangerous and can be fatal if not done exactly right.

I hope she is ok. Let us know.

Thank you for your input,this is why it is so good to be on these sites.

I went back to the book and reread it and turns out I misinterpreted it.
He defined free choice feeding as:

If birds are reared in a grassy back yard, or on free range a system of free choice feeding works very well. Under these conditions birds do an excellent job in balancing their own diet....offering mash, crumbles or pellet in one feeder and scratch grain or a single grain in another hopper....Birds on a good free range, as they approach sexual maturity, will live almost entirely on grass, insects, leaf mold (if available as in a compost heap), and scratch or single grains. It is impossible to improve on this system for the production of beautifully feathered birds."

Fred P. Jeffrey BANTAM CHICKENS


Until I let them range a little over a week ago they all got layer ration in with the mix of feed I make. I will be adding a free choice feeder with layer ration in it immediately, Also I am going to put ACV in the water and make my little hen some homemade yogurt. She seems to be doing better, I have her inside now and she has medicated chick food with a little scratch mixed in. Her crop feels pretty empty now.
Oh yes, you are quit right my hens seem quite happy to continue to lay their eggs in the coop. .