Is it possible to feed chicks too much?

[Hopefulloflove]

Do you keep food out for them all the time? That's what I've been doing, so they can eat whenever they want. I also feed some extra's a couple of times a day...treats..they seem to eat all the time, lol...just wanting to make sure I don't overfeed them....

 

[harleyjo]

What kind of chicks?

 

[Hopefulloflove]

I've got 4 silkies, and I notice they don't eat as much...mostly sex links, a couple of australorps and Barneveldors...

 

[Stacykins]

I think I read that cornish X can overeat.

But normal chicks? They can regulate themselves. I do notice that before lights out when my chicks were in the brooder, they would absolutely STUFF themslves so their crops were HUGE. Like, bulging little balloons. I was quite shocked at first, but read that chicks could greedily fill through entire crops and be fine, since it would all be digested by morning. Thankfully that turned out to be true!

 

[Hopefulloflove]

Ok, that's helpful to know... mind do this also in the brooder right before bedtime...They seem to be fine though. I guess I am glad they fill up so they sleep pretty much all night

So cute!!

 

[Papa Rooster]

umm i dont think so? i mean if they do eat to much then they wont eat anymore? unless it causes problems?

 

[ScottyHOMEy]

Quote:
The breeds you describe, they'll be fine. Self-regulating, they are.

The exception is the Cornish Cross meat birds. The rule of thumb for them, starting at about a week, is 12-hours-on/12-off with their feed. Less serious, as it relates at least to their general health, is the consideration of the feed budget. I altered the 12/12 rule to suit my birds' growth by keeping an eya on the droppings every morning. Plain chicken poo, I'd ease up their daily ration a bit until I'd notice that the droppings would start to have a lot of feed left in them, resembling more a greenish, grainy wetted mash. At that point I'd cut back the ration, and, with a little practice was able to keep up a "rational" medium as costs/conversion/productivity should go.

The more serious issue . . . economics enter into it obviously . . . is good and responsible husbandry. The Cornish-Xs can eat themselves to death. Unlimited feed to them can just completely overwhelm their ability to digest all their compulsive eating behavior can put into them. Left to their own devices with unlimited feed, their digestive sytem will consume too much of their energy and internal resources as it does it's job, all at the expense of the other sytems they need to grow. In such situations they can be prone to "flip," basically a chicken coronary.

Your breeds will do fine. All I'd add is that, as much fun as it is to offer and watch them go after the treats . . . no need to stop it, but keep an eye on the quantity and timing, so that the treats don't displace too much of their regular feed to the point that they're missing out on the nutrients in the formulated feeds.