How much to feed?

[Ashbylife]

We've recently got our first chickens - 4 maran bantams, 16 weeks old - they're really cute and I love them already! Great personalities.
They are kept in an ark on the lawn that is moved each day - so good fresh grass each day and we are feeding them layers pellets (though they haven't actually started to lay yet).
At first the feed was in there all the time but a couple of old timers have said there memories are that chickens should only be fed once or twice a day so now we are leaving the pellets in for an hour in the morning and then removing until the evening. In the meantime I put in any veg tops etc that come out of the kitchen.

Is this right, or would then be better with unlimited access to the pellets?
Also, do we need to give grit as well or will they get what they need from the pellets and pecking in the soil/grass?
Any info from anyone a bit more experience would be appreciated - don't want to cause my girls any problems!

[MaureenHall]

I'd leave the pellets there all day so that they can have what they need when they need it. Save the treats until later in the day. Pellets contain all the nutrients the chooks need with added grit, though if they aren't digging, eating soil etc, then they will need to have extra grit available. Mine dig all day but there's still shell and grit there if they want it.

[CountryFayre]

Pure breeds don't normally mature until about 26 weeks of age, so really they still need to be on a growers ration which should be feed ad lib, I would avoid filling them up with 'junk food' until they have come into lay otheraise they will take a lot longer to do so. Flint grit should be made available to them at least on a weekly basis. Ideally if you can leave a small bowl of grit out they will help themselves as and when they need it.