FEEDER...ARE THEY GETTING ENOUGH

[mpoland33]

a week ago I got 9, 8 week old, girls. They came from a place that they sat in a small box and havent explored much. No roost, no ramp, just commercial feeders and waterers. I set up a DIY feeder I saw online with a 5 gallon bucket, eye bolt underneatth (hanging), that they peck at the bolt and the feed comes through. It's supposed to limit the waste so as not to attract pests. It comes out at a small rate and it took them a couple days to get the hang of it. My question is how do i know they are getting enough?

I've been taking handfuls of food out of the bin and tossing it in the run while they learn but have been decreasing that since I see they are hitting the feeder more. Obviously I dont want to starve them but I want them to learn to do it for themselves. I've also noticed they don't peck much at the compost pile. I'm hoping it's just because it's fresh and they aren't used to foraging.

 

[pwiker]

At 8 weeks old, each of them should be eating around 2.5 ounces per day. If they are pasturing, you can assume 60% of that. Just put 1.5 pounds of food in the feeder and check it the next day to see if they ate all that could come out. Then put 1.5 pounds in again and see if they repeat. They are likely getting enough.