How much do chicks eat from Day 1 to 16 Weeks

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dogsmum

dogsmum

In the Brooder
8 Years
Mar 24, 2011
17
2
22
Hello,

I am new to the forum and I tried to do a search as I'm sure this question has been asked before but coudn't find the answer. Tomorrow I am picking up 10 baby chicks all heavy breed layers. I grabbed a 5 # bucket of chick start but am going to feed them an organic Chick start from Modesto Milling (a friend is getting it this weekend in Denver for me). So my question is how much do 10 chicks eat from Day 1 to 16 weeks as the Modesto Milling is Chick start/grower and then I'll put them on their layer feed at 16 weeks or so. The bags come in 25 and 50
#. I know a grown chicken eats about 10 #'s a month but when are they considered grown. Thank you so much for all the help and info.

Will one 50# bag feed 10 chicks for 4 months? I've googled and searched everywhere but have not run across this answer.

Sincerely,

Danielle
 
I have 10 that are 13 weeks. All together they are averaging 11lbs per week, so approximately 1lb per week per bird.
 
BR75's estimation sounds about right. I had 3 chicks with a 25 lb bag of feed last about 12 weeks. Of course they ate a lot less in the beginning as in the end but averages to a little less than 1lb/week/bird
 
Quote:
I have 14 full grow RIR's that eat 50lbs of layer pellets a week. I know some varieties eat less but you may be under estimating.
 
Last edited:
According to Penn State "Poultry Management Reference Manual" (44 page pdf) :

Cumulative feed required of 100 brown egg pullets is 1218 pounds to 16 weeks of age.

With your 10 chicks: 121.8 pounds.

It sounds like your "heavy breed layers" may be larger than, say, Sex-link pullets. You may want to buy 3, 50 pound bags of starter-grower for them.

Steve
 
You are all great! Thank you all so much for the above advice!!! I ordered 2 of the 50# bags and Steve I'm going to get another one to be on the safe side and I could mix it with the layer if I have more! I am writing all of the info from the posts in the cover of my book Urban Chick so that I have it for the future. Plus I start my chicken journal tonight so will keep track! The brooder is all set up, temp at about 94 and tomorrow at 10 am I leave Laramie to drive to Fort Collins, CO to get the "girls". We are very excited and ready for our new life with chickens to begin. I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future. Thank you again for quick responses as my friend drives to Denver tomorrow and is picking up the Modesto Mills feed.

Danielle
 
Welcome!
The problem with having enough feed for three or four months is that it will get older than ideal before it's fed! I buy fresh feed, within four weeks of it's mill date, and plan to use it up within another month at the very most.
Always check the mill date on each bag of feed, and only buy fresh!!
Then, store it in it's original bag in a metal garbage can to keep out rodents. I can fit two 50 lb. bags in a garbage can, it works very well.
Post pictures of your new chicks and the brooder! This will be fun, and it's fun to figure out what breeds you have too.
Mary
 

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