8 week old chicks.. Do they need food 24/7?

[salexander]

I have a problem with mice getting into their coop at night, and wanted to pick up the feed overnight. Do they need access to feed 24/7 at this stage in their growth?

 

[Judy]

No -- but they will be hungry at the crack of dawn!

 

[donrae]

Chickens don't eat when it's dark, so having food out at night isn't necessary. They will wake up hungry, though, especially now while they're so little. In the winter you'll want to wait until they've roosted before taking the food so they can have a full crop to warm them through the night.

There are lots of posts in the "Predators and Pests" section dealing with mice, you might get some ideas there for controlling the population. Once the little buggers know there's food around, I think they call all the friends and family and it's just a free-for-all buffet