How much Food do Baby Chicks need a Day

[mommiesrcool]

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.

i have right now 2 18 week old white rock pullets and in Florida its really hot thought the day and i tried free feeding them but they ate all of it at once and instead running around what they do right after i give the free feeding they lay down because they ate too much

 

[ChristinLewin]

TSC generally has a “must buy a minimum of 4 chicks” just FYI

 

[mommiesrcool]

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

what type of chickens do you have?

 

[Parront]

As a pet parrot owner, the big problem is with too many treats, not the food availability. Dylan, the parrot in my avatar, will say "Want more" when she sees us with chips, or other treats she likes. Her food dish is full, but she will eat treats! Chickens are no different, they just can't say what they want in English. But they let us know! Pets get over fed. The boring food in the feeder will not be over-eaten, unless you are raising a Cornish-X meat bird!

 

[mommiesrcool]

TSC generally has a “must buy a minimum of 4 chicks” just FYI

i know but they told me i can pay the price of 4 and just take 2 home with me

 

[mommiesrcool]

As a pet parrot owner, the big problem is with too many treats, not the food availability. Dylan, the parrot in my avatar, will say "Want more" when she sees us with chips, or other treats she likes. Her food dish is full, but she will eat treats! Chickens are no different, they just can't say what they want in English. But they let us know! Pets get over fed. The boring food in the feeder will not be over-eaten, unless you are raising a Cornish-X meat bird!

white rocks are also raised as meat chickens ( their dual purpose)

 

[ChristinLewin]

i know but they told me i can pay the price of 4 and just take 2 home with me

Interesting! I’ve asked for the same rule and I was always told no because it’s in the best interest of the chicken to have a flock. Even when I explain I have 60 chickens at home, it’s still a hard rule for TSC where I live. That’s exactly how I ended up with 4 Columbian Wyandotte last week when I just went in to buy VetRap Haha

 

[21hens-incharge]

white rocks are also raised as meat chickens ( their dual purpose)

Dual purpose breeds do not over eat in my experience.

 

[NatJ]

white rocks are also raised as meat chickens ( their dual purpose)

Yes, but they are usually fine if feed is available constantly.

Cornish Cross are the ones that will overeat to the point of it being bad for them. And even for them, the advice is usually to have free choice feed for 12 hours every day--that is almost the entire time they are awake, depending on the season.

 

[Parront]

white rocks are also raised as meat chickens ( their dual purpose)

I have 2 White Rocks, they do like their food, but are far different from the Cornish x Rocks raised for meat. Their crops do bulge! Mine at 10 weeks old weigh about 2 pounds. My Cornish-x broilers at this age dressed out @ 10 pounds and could no longer walk very well.