How many feeding stations

[Ponte]

Hello

I let my three chicks out early in the morning and lock them up at nightfall.
They have about a 400 foot path each way. Should I have multiply food and watering stations or will one suffice ?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

For 3 chicks one is enough unless you have problems when they are older. They will come back to the feed and water as necessary generally.

 

[Ponte]

For 3 chicks one is enough unless you have problems when they are older. They will come back to the feed and water as necessary generally.

Thanks, it’s super hot and humid down here. Have read that Buff Orpington do not tolerate the heat well so was concerned.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well if you are concerned that adding more waterers is always a good thing.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Yup, three chicks, one feeder, hungry birds will travel.

On the general question though, one thing we have learned with commercial free range flocks using our feeders is that the more feeders you have, the more chickens per feeder you can use the feeders without competition. Once you get past five or six there will be a marked increase in birds per feeder as there will usually be one feeder not being used. As many as 100 birds per feeder will work if you have two dozen feeders out at once. Of course you will be refilling them every day anyway as that is about the capacity of a medium feeder.