How much should chicks eat?

[misshell]

I have ten chicks that are four weeks old. Six buff orpingtons and four gold sex links. I filled their three pound food container this morning around 9am and had to just fill it up again about 20 minutes ago. Its 2:50pm. It seems like they are eating way more than they should?? Maybe I am wrong? I am all new to this, so a little guidence would be appreciated!

 

[Silviaschicks]

let them eat as much as they want to, they'll be fine

 

[Justso]

Can you post a picture of the feeder? Are they able to get in there and scatter feed around?
I agree, let them eat as much as they want.

 

[RRM]

Agree with letting them eat as much as they want because they’ll only eat when they’re hungry, which is quite often at 4 weeks old.
3 pounds in 5-1/2 hours for 10 chicks seems excessive though. If it’s a typical store bought chick feeder or anything else they can scratch feed out of I’ll bet they are wasting 1/4 to 1/3 of their food by scratching it out of the feeder and loosing it into the bedding.
I remember cleaning wood shavings from the brooder on a three day turn around and there was probably 4 quarts of starter/grower crumbles that sifted out of the bedding, that’s when they got introduced to a plastic bucket type feeder with modified pvc 90’s for them to stick their heads into to eat. No more waste after that feeder change.