Do they have enough sense to stop

[chickintexas]

eating when they get full??? I can't believe how much these little things can stuff themselves. They make my belly ache when I feel how full their crops are!

 

[BarkerChickens]

Ours ate constantly as chicks and still haven't stopped.

At 2.5 yrs old (the oldest ones anyway), they are a healthy weight, so I will just assume they have REALLY high metabolisms!

 

[TXmom]

It is CRAZY how much they eat...I agree! But I think it's necessary. They are sooo active, and grow soooo fast. I can practically see the size difference from morning until night...it must take a lot of protein to grow those little bodies and all those feathers, and lots of energy to go running, scratching, roosting, dust bathing, playing, etc, etc, etc....

When they get older, they don't eat nearly as much..at least in relation to their size.

 

[felidaet]

You did not mention what kind of chicks they are. I have read some posts that for some breeds of meat birds you need to limit how much they eat. I have no experience with these. For all others they should have food available 24 x 7. I raise Large Fowl layers and they always have feed available.

 

[chickintexas]

These guys are Ameraucanas. Very hungry ones, apparently.

 

[fastpat]

The only time I've ever seen a chicken not eating or looking for food is at night when they're asleep. I think the big thing is to feed them the right mixture for their age and breed. Mine really do go through the food.