How much Food do Baby Chicks need a Day

[mommiesrcool]

when i go to TSC I'm going to get two Rhode Island Red Pullets, i wanted to know how much fees they need a day? when i used to have baby chicks they over ate A LOT so much that they had to lose some weight.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

when i go to TSC I'm going to get two Rhode Island Red Pullets, i wanted to know how much fees they need a day? when i used to have baby chicks they over ate A LOT so much that they had to lose some weight.

The food should be FREE CHOICE.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Chicks need free choice chick starter, or an all-flock feed that can be fed to chicks. They need to eat free choice, so keep the feeder full, and use small bags of feed so it doesn't get old.
Check the mill date on each bag, so you are feeding stuff that's within a couple of months of milling, not older.
Birds fed mixed whole grain diets, or lots of extra goodies, can and will get fat and often also malnourished.
Mary

 

[Starburst]

As said above, you want to give your little ones free choice chick starter or all-flock feed. When they get to be hens, a general rule of thumb is half a cup, but this varies depending on things such as the breed and size. To keep your chicks from getting overweight, you want to feed them quality feed and limit the treats.

 

[mommiesrcool]

ok thank you guys soo much for helping me

 

[mommiesrcool]

As said above, you want to give your little ones free choice chick starter or all-flock feed. When they get to be hens, a general rule of thumb is half a cup, but this varies depending on things such as the breed and size. To keep your chicks from getting overweight, you want to feed them quality feed and limit the treats.

sorry i just had one more question, till what week of age should i free feed them

 

[Folly's place]

Mine get free choice feed forever!
Mary

 

[Starburst]

sorry i just had one more question, till what week of age should i free feed them

Well, once my chickens move to the coop and are laying, I personally just refill their feeder as needed and put it away at night. I've never had a problem with them eating too much. If you want to stop doing free-choice, I would say it is probably safe to do when they are in the coop and have a nice schedule. 14+ weeks would probably be okay too.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I always have food available for my chickens. If they are hungry, they can eat. None of my chickens are overweight.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The only time I remove feed is at night. It is to keep rodents out of the feed. First thing I do even before pouring my coffee is feed my birds every day 365 days a year.