Am I overfeeding?

[chickw/chicks]

My chicks are now what consider chickateens. They are about 11 weeks old. I'm worried I'm over feeding them. As of now I have a feed dispenser that I fill and let them eat all they want but now it seems like they are going through an awful lot of food. Also if it empties and I don't fill it in an hour or two they let me know by getting loud. Is this normal? Will they stop eating when full?

 

[RendonRoo]

Unless they are wasting it i would bet that they are eating it. As fast as they grow their appetite grows faster to keep up. Mine seemed to start slowing down when they were about grown but they are outside now and getting more scraps, bugs, grass, etc.

As long as they aren't wasting it i say keep them feeders full.

Good Luck

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Wow, great chicken questions.

No, they wont ever get full in the sense that you mean. Think teen boys and you get the idea.

They will eat almost 1/3 pound of feed per day ... (chickens, not teens) ... when they get grown and laying eggs steady. That's a pound for each 3 birds, seven days a week. 7 pounds per week, etc... for 3 birds. More birds = more feed. Simple math.

Oh, yes, you have just reached the start!

Now, they can be regulated by feeding at certain times, and in certain ways. But if you miss a feeding, or vary the times, it can upset them. They may slacken their laying, molt too soon, fight and pick at each other and so on. So you really must commit to their routine and not skimp on the feed.

Some ways to reduce feed purchases are:

- Feed a "damp scrap mash." Collect all your table scraps, leftovers, refrigerator "science experiments," etc. and once a week, boil this 'stew' briefly, just til softened. Drain till barely damp.
Allow to cool, mash it up and mix in about 10% regular feed. Feed this dampened table mash to them in early morning or late afternoon, so they either start their day with it or go to roost on it. Feed as much as they will eat up in an hour or two. Remove all other feed at that time.
The mash will store, covered, in the icebox. Allow it to warm up before feeding. While it is being used, collect the next "mash fixins."

- You can also make the midday feeding exclusively one of green feeds. Garden trimmings, produce store cuttings and so on can be bundled and hung in the chickens space where they can jump and nip at them. This gives them exercise and the all important green food.
Cabbage, Kale, lettuces, green root tops, garden trimmings, etc. qualify.

- Allow them to range/forage. Let them out into a protected paddock or other area where they can eat grass, bugs and opportunity feeds.
NOTE: I left the word "free" out here (as in free range). I advocate managed range feeding, not allowing them to wander around like hobos, trying to scrabble up a meal.

Combine these and you can cut back the feed ration to some degree. How much will be determined by careful observation and experience with YOUR particular flock. But something like 30% or so ought to be doable.

But remember: once you start a routine, adhere to it.
Chickens are slaves to regularity.
So, dO all these, but as good practice... keep the feeder full, too.

Hope this helps.

 

[chickw/chicks]

Wow...they do eat a lot thank you soooo much for the insight and suggestions.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

That was very helpful, thank you.