How many times to feed baby chicks

[LCchickens71]

Hi everyone!! How many times a day should baby chicks be fed? I’m feeding Purina Start and Grow. I feed them morning and evening and of course water.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’d feed them free choice, just have feed available at all times, refill as needed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Agreed. Chickens are naturally foragers. That means they seek feed all day long. Hunt, peck, scratch, and eat! Along with the occasional nap, of course. Baby chicks are voracious! Not only are they growing in size, they are developing very rapidly AND they are growing feathers which are almost totally protein. They need an almost constant supply of feed to supply their nutritional needs. Get a chick feeder and keep it filled with a good-quality chick starter commercial feed. They also need clean, fresh water constantly available, and crushed granite baby chick grit for digestion, if you offer them anything else besides the chick starter.

 

[North_FL_Coops]

Hi everyone!! How many times a day should baby chicks be fed? I’m feeding Purina Start and Grow. I feed them morning and evening and of course water.

My chicks are just over three weeks old and I keep their feeder full. However, I do check it morning and evening to make sure there is still feed available and to clean out any debris or poop that gets in there.

You’ll find you’ll be refilling it more and more often as they grow!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I’d feed them free choice, just have feed available at all times, refill as needed.

+1..

 

[Lazy Farmer]

My chicks are just over three weeks old and I keep their feeder full. However, I do check it morning and evening to make sure there is still feed available and to clean out any debris or poop that gets in there.

You’ll find you’ll be refilling it more and more often as they grow!

And clean up the spillage so they don't scratch by instinct thru the spillage that's mixed with poo. There is so much wasted feed in the beginning stages. But it is what it is. Later their immune system becomes stronger and stronger, and can tolerate a little contamination.

 

[K0k0shka]

Not just chicks, grown chickens should be fed free choice, too (feed available at all times). Chickens (of all ages) eat small quantities of food at a time throughout the day, they don't eat a set small number of large meals the way we do.

 

[dearmeghann]

Our chicks LOVE to spill their feed. We've made a little stand with hardware cloth to prevent them from scratching and eating their poo. I swear they love to sit there and kick out their food. I got a 50lb bag of food, and I was like, oh no! It'll take them ages to eat...

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Same as everyone, 24x7 buffet. What I do to eliminate waste is mash. Mix starter feed with water is all you do, in a dish. I do sprinkle some dry around the food area for scratching but mash is main source as it's easier to eat when they're new born, added bonus of water, they love it and reduces waste.

 

[dearmeghann]

Same as everyone, 24x7 buffet. What I do to eliminate waste is mash. Mix starter feed with water is all you do, in a dish. I do sprinkle some dry around the food area for scratching but mash is main source as it's easier to eat when they're new born, added bonus of water, they love it and reduces waste.

When do you stop feeding them mash? Or do you ferment for the older ones?