At what age do I take the feed away at night?

[Kelly Faulconer]

I am new to chickens and BYC. We have 12 two-week old red pullets and have been learning a lot from friends and family and of course BYC. I thought I read somewhere to ween the chicks of night time food? Is that right? When?

 

[HEChicken]

For laying breeds, I never do. It is recommended to remove feed at night with Cornish Rocks, because they will eat too much if its left out all the time.

 

[Fred's Hens]

While in the brooder, there's no need to remove the feed at night. I find the chicks do sleep in spurts and often eat at night.

Once they are weaned off the lamp and placed into their grow out pen in the barn, they get no light from sunset to sunrise. Where we live, it is pitch black. The birds roost and sleep all night long, and frankly, there no need for feed at night, at that point. I feed every morning at 6 am and check the feeders in the later afternoon. If they've cleaned up the feed, I'll give them some additional feed, but only the amount they can clean up before darkness sets in and they head to roost.

We don't like having feed out at night attracting rodents. It's our style, but everyone goes about things a bit differently.

 

[suzeqf]

I take the feed away at night when they are in the coop full time between 8-12 weeks old one because they weren't eating it and I had the waterer in the coop they would roost it and sometimes knock it over and it would make a huge mess

 

[Kelly Faulconer]

Thank you everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. These chicks are getting big so quickly. We love it!