Can chicks eat too much food?

[Janilom81]

This is my first time raising chicks. My question is, can they over eat? I am feeding them 20% starter feed and crushing it up a bit. I was leaving it in the brooder all day and night but the chicks crops seem to just stay full all day long. I leave water in the brooder all day and night as well. All 6 chicks are pooping and I have had to clean some poopy butts almost every day for at least one or two chicks.

Just wanted to add that 3 are Barred Rock about 2 weeks old, They eat all day it seems.
The other 3 are about 4 days younger and are Buff Orpingtons.

 

[Huntmaster]

No, they won't overeat its always best to have feed 24/7s for young growing birds. I free feed all my different birds all their lives. Only thing that is concerning is the pasty butts don't let them clog up so to speak. What temps are you running in your brooder?

 

[Tonyroo]

Let them eat as much as they want. But always do daily butt checks to prevent pasty butt.

 

[Janilom81]

I tried to get a couple pictures. The chick in the really close picture just took a poo and it was more watery than normal. The temp of the warming plate goes between 104-107.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I always free feed my birds.

 

[Huntmaster]

Temps are high at 2 weeks old they only need temps around 85 degrees at most.

 

[Huntmaster]

In the pics it does look like crop is very full they may be plugged up from pasty butt. You would be able to see it clogged around the vent. It will plug them up and not be able to poo and if it's really bad not be able to empty crop and they will not live. If their bottoms are clean and pooping, they should be ok.

 

[Janilom81]

In the pics it does look like crop is very full they may be plugged up from pasty butt. You would be able to see it clogged around the vent. It will plug them up and not be able to poo and if it's really bad not be able to empty crop and they will not live. If their bottoms are clean and pooping, they should be ok.

Awesome, Thank you for the info. I lowered the temp to hit 90 on the high end and put their food back in. They are pooping and vents are all clear. I just didn't want them to explode or something.

 

[Huntmaster]

Is their brooder inside what is the temps where your brooder is?

 

[Janilom81]

Awesome, Thank you for the info. I lowered the temp to hit 90 on the high end and put their food back in. They are pooping and vents are all clear. I just didn't want them to explode or something.T

Last couple thoughts. Should their crops feel hard or soft when full? The second picture I posted that doesnt show the chicks face is pretty hard to the touch. The crop is larger on one side than the other and I can see part of the chicks skin because the crop is so big.