How much feed do I give my chicks?

[metalman488]

I'm a little confused about this because couple of people who have raised chickens for years have told me that if you let baby chicks have too much food, they will just keep eating until they die. The problem is that it has been a while since any of them raised chickens, so none of them remember exactly what age I can start safely giving the chickens a lot of feed for them to eat as they get hungry. So I need to know at what age I can do that. I'm pretty sure they are getting enough feed now, but it'll help me if I can put a gravity feeder in that will last for a while.

 

[Nike]

I don't believe that is true that if they eat too much they'll die. Chicks usually know how much they need to eat. They do eat constantly, but that's just what chicks do. I just keep my feeder filled and that way each chick can eat enough so that it grows just right for it. So don't worry about overeating, they can handle it!

 

[red horse ranch]

I'm a little confused about this because couple of people who have raised chickens for years have told me that if you let baby chicks have too much food, they will just keep eating until they die. The problem is that it has been a while since any of them raised chickens, so none of them remember exactly what age I can start safely giving the chickens a lot of feed for them to eat as they get hungry. So I need to know at what age I can do that. I'm pretty sure they are getting enough feed now, but it'll help me if I can put a gravity feeder in that will last for a while.

I think the people who are telling you that may have been raising broilers or the hybrid crosses that grow real quick. They do overeat a lot and can have leg problems before they are big enough to butcher.

But if you just have regular chicks to become layers then you can and should keep feed in front of them all the time. The gravity feeders are a great help to have since it saves work and the chicks don't waste as much.

 

[metalman488]

Thanks for the answers! I will be getting/making a gravity feeder for my chickens very soon!

 

[newmarch2014]

Yes they will only do 3 basic things much like a human baby in infancy eat, poop and sleep. Think about how much they are growing each week and if you don't know yet just wait a week and see, it is an amazing amount. My 6 one month olds go through almost 16 oz of food a day between eating it and throwing it all over the brooder floor.....