Just put the birds out on GRASS...

[Daffy Duck]

We are raising 100+ Cornish Cross and a few Roosters for meat. These kids just went out on GRASS at 3 weeks. How much should I feed each day / per bird if they are in tractors and moving each day? Recommendations are 1/4# per day / per bird... but what if they are on grass.... How much should I feed......?

 

[ejtalbert]

My chickens maintain the grass in their run. (Aprx. 95 sq ft) (see profile pic)
I think that, especially since your chicks are so young, you should always have a feed option available so that they get all their nutrients. Consider attaching a feeder to the side of the chicken tractor that they can reach at all times?
Just because they have feed when they are on grass doesn't mean they won't want to eat the grass anymore. But it is always good to have another option.

 

[iwltfum]

1/4 pound per day per bird is for adult laying hens. You should look up a feeding chart for cornish cross which you should be able to get weekly totals from. Divide your weekly total by seven and you have your daily feed total (roughly). It will be a steep trajectory and every week you will feed them more and more compared to the week before. You could also just free feed (and restrict feed as needed) which is alot easier than weighing out food every day. But if you need to calculate how much feed you will need to buy, a feed chart would be helpful

 

[iwltfum]

this is from welp hatcheries cornish rock page. It's based on 20-22% starter for 4-5 weeks and 18% grower from there

 

[Ridgerunner]

One problem with trying to feed each chicken the same amount is that some chickens can be feed bullies. If you free feed as much as they eat that isn't an issue, even if you restrict when that is available. But trying to manage how much they each eat it can be, Commercial operations face that, laying operations for sure and probably meat operations. They have a solution.

Provide enough feeder space so each and every chicken can eat at the same time. When they are hungry spread the feed out to all of them. They'll eat until it's gone as long as it's not too much, which means a few feedings a day. The bullies will be too busy eating to keep others away.

You'll have to work out a system of how much at a time and how often, but maybe another tool to keep in mind when coming up with your feeding plan.