How much should baby chicks eat??

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Rooster61

Rooster61

Songster
8 Years
Mar 25, 2011
75
21
116
Michigan
We brought our 6 baby chicks home 3 days ago, and I think they are about 6-7 days old, and just wondering how much they should be eating?
I gave them a hard boiled egg today and it was gone in about 2 hrs. But their feeder doesn't seem to be going down much since I put it in. They haven't even ate a 1/4lb of the starter feed in 3 days and I just want to be sure their getting enough to eat.
 
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As long as the food is out and they know how to get to it, they will eat what they need. You will be able to see any unwell birds just by watching them.
 
They will start eating a whole lot more as they grow. You are feeding Chick Starter? I have 14 chicks that have only made it through a 1/4 of the bag in 3 weeks but they are bantams. I noticed yesterday that I'm needing to fill up the feeder twice a day now. Just added 13 more today.

I got to get a bigger feeder!!
 
They all seem to be very healthy eating and drinking, running napping, and pooping.
I am using the chick starter food, and read that it had grit in it, but with me feeding them hard boiled eggs are they getting enough grit from the starter food for the eggs, or should I add a small dish of grit to help with the eggs?
 
Quote:
They can handle egg without grit. I would not give too much egg right now because the chick starter has a better balance of what they need. If they are full of egg they will eat less feed.
 
I thought I read that if you give them other food besides the starter feed they need it to help digest the food?
 
Quote:
They will need grit if you are feeding treats other than soft foods (which they shouldn't really have yet). Giving a little plate of sand will provide enough grit if you feed peas or mealworms or similar treats in another week or two. Just don't let the stuff themselves with the sand/dirt. I have one that would rather have dirt than food.
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They will need actual grit once they are outside. Once they get the hang of freeranging they will find their own grit. (if you freerange)
 

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