i find the porch a very good place to get information. so about how long would it take to raise some chicks to about 5# or big enough to eat? feeding as much all natural feed as you can.

Depends on the type of chicken. What breed are they? And what do you mean by "natural feed"?

I raise and sell freedom rangers. 4# in 10 weeks. You can grow a Cornish Cross to that size in 7 weeks, depending on the strain.

The Cornish cross birds available through hatcheries can be finished out to 5 pounds carcass weight in about 8 weeks. More traditional or heritage dual purpose breeds take longer, between 16-20 weeks. I've found that there is a difference in flavor between the two; I prefer the more flavorfull heritage breeds. There are also some crosses like red rangers that are marketed as quick maturing (10weeks) without some of the health concerns of over-fed Cornish cross birds.

I'm assuming that you are raising Cornish Cross. I have had five pound males in about 7 to 8 weeks,(females may take a week longer) but that's with feeding a 21% grower from start to finish. If the protein level is low it will take longer. My neighbor just raised some birds he bought close to the first of June. He has been feeding them 18% mix and is just now getting 3.5 pound birds. If you want to rush them and still stay natural, milk is good to put weight on more quickly. When I had a milk cow I put a quart waterer full of milk out for 50 chickens along with normal water and feed. I had 3 pound birds at 5 weeks. If you go the milk route, some folks like to feed clabber. I fed sweet milk. I've been told which ever you do it is important not to switch it but to always feed the same.

A bit off topic - but I had the worst luck with the Freedom Rangers for some reason. Took them all the way out to 16+ weeks. And still tiny birds with a body shape that most customers aren't used to. And that no one would buy until all the luxuriously meaty Cornish X sold out. Even the loca-voire cafe owner who swore he wanted slower-growing birds. Lol. I happened into a couple Dixie Rainbows somehow and loved those. Based on my cursory research, they're unfortunately hard to find.

Anyway, I'm not sure what you mean by natural feed. But I raise mostly the Cornish. I feed non-GMO 18% grower. Plus they're out all day and eat however much bugs and greenery they care to. I don't tractor them. I'm horrible at building anything like that. Plus, it just seems like no more space than a chicken house. Mine live in hoop houses with electronet around to make yards. Or, they just hustle around with the laying hens. I just looked out the window to see a 4 week old Cornish in hot pursuit of a bug. I call them the "attack marshmallows". I start butchering as early as 6 weeks because many of my customers prefer a 3-4 pound bird. I've taken them up to 20+ weeks occasionally. Typically the males dress at 12 pounds at that age. Still nice and tender and flavorful meat.