Feed and amount for 6 week olds

[arthurpete]

They are sex links and have been chowing down since i brought them home. I am up around 1 1/2 cups of chick start a day plus whatever treats i throw in there like apples, potato etc.

They seem like they would eat more if i put it in but how much is appropriate? I am using Browns Natural Encore the breakdown is:

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 16.0%, Lysine (min) 0.9%, Methionine (min) 0.43%, Crude Fat (min) 3.5%, Crude Fiber (max) 5.0%, Moisture (max) 12.0%, Calcium (min) 3.25%, Calcium (max) 4.75%, Phosphorous (min) 0.5%, Salt (min) 0.3%, Salt (max) 0.8%, Vitamin A (min) 3,900 IU/lb., Vitamin E (min) 4.9 IU/lb. Total Bacillus Species (min) 100,000 CFU/g.
Size: 7 POUND

Ingredients Corn, Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate , Salt, DL-Methionine, L-lysine, Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract Dehydrated, Amprolium, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum, Enterococcus Faecium, Choline Chloride, Naicin Supplement, Roughage Products, Vitamin A-Acetate, Vitamin D3 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavini Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Menadione, Nicotinamide Bisulfate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Copper Sulfate and Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide.

This was the only thing available at the pet store and i have yet to make it down to the feed and seed store to see my options. It was kinda pricey too for a 7lb bag - $8.99

 

[rhs7111]

That's very pricey. I buy 50lb bags of medicated chick starter for $17...and then, at point of lay, they transition to 50lb bags of layer pellets at $16. I buy from my local feedstore and I'm in New England.

 

[Mtn Margie]

I feed my chicks free choice. I have a canning jar feeder and keep it filled.

 

[arthurpete]

so how much do you think they should consume?

 

[hunter109]

i feed the starter feed in a 50lb bag for 14.50 they are feed out of a 11lb hanging feeder and seems to work good the younger ones i am getting today will be feed out of a quart jar feeder and it will be full all the time

 

[mdbokc]

"How much should they consume?"

I think they should consume however much they eat. Your job is to make sure it is there for them.

 

[Fred's Hens]

50 lb bags will save you money. Much lower cost per pound.
You COULD ration feed, but you cannot determine that unless you begin by offering them a substantial ration in the am, and one at 4 pm. If they chow these rations down, you know you are not feeding enough. If at nightfall, once you have uneaten feed, you know to back off a touch on the last feeding of the day.

Using a consistent measuring device will give you their total amount of daily feed required.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I googled Brown's Natural Encore, since I've never heard of it and chicks need more than 16% protein. All I found was Brown's Natural Encore for caged birds, like parrots and cockatiels? If that's the case, get to a feed store for some chick starter ASAP.

As to quantity, chicks and chickens should always have feed available. Pretty rare to find a chicken that overeats.

 

[jimz1]

How many do you have and how old are they? I have 16 month old chicks and they just finished the first 50# bag. Just keep feeder full and they will be ok.
Check out your local Feed mill if you have one. They will be a lot cheaper and most of the time if you can't get your questions answered here(that's near impossible!), someone there should be able to answer it for you.

 

[TN_BIRD]

Head to the feed store my friend.

Make sure you have a good feeder and make sure they are not wasting any feed.