how much food/feed/starter/grower

[seafood]

My chicks/chickens are about 9 or 10 weeks old. All healthy and doing well.

I have a homemade feeder...5 gallon bucket screwed to a planter dish. Fill it with their starter/grower and leave it available to them 24/7.

Am I being too nice? Do they need this food available to them all the time? The have a 400 sq/ft area with lots of grass, grit, and I am sure...bugs.

Should I back off on allowing them access to food all the time? A 50lb back is lasting me about a month right now and would love to stretch that out. I know they are self regulating animals but just not sure how to save without restricting them too much.

 

[dacjohns]

I hope it's OK to keep food available all the time. That's what I do.

 

[charmed one]

Everything I have read says to let them have all they want. Unlike other animals, they will only eat what they want and no more.

 

[ChickenToes]

I agree, chickens don't stuff themselves with food just because it's there. So, leave it out for them at all times, they'll eat the same amount that they would if you took it away for awhile.

 

[Dawn419]

I leave feed out for our gang, 24/7 also, no matter what age they are.


Dawn

 

[dacjohns]

I think the Cornish X meat birds might eat more than they need. Their food isn't even fully digested when it passes through the other end.