New flock

[mattevans03]

I started my flock this week after adding 5 RIR and 5 Barred Rock to my starter setup of just 3 RIR. So I have 8 RIR and 5 BR total.
The coop have a concrete floor with a mixture of cattle panel and chain link fencing with chicken wire over it. I am using pine shaving as the floor and am gonna add DE for the deep litter method. My chicks are about 5 weeks old. I am just using a standard waterer but will be building my nipple system tomorrow with a 5 gallon bucket to hold the water. I am feeding Manna Pro Chick Starter as I understand I should feed this until laying age approaches, my question though is how much should I be feeding? I generally fill up the feeder before I go to work and then again when I get home later that night. Do I just free feed or should I be rationing should much is fed? Thanks for any responses!
-Matt

 

[Chick Charm]

I like to provide feed 24/7 to my chickens other than my meaties. To a great extent chickens will self regulate. Free Range chickens will consume less feed as they get protein from bugs and such. I personally do not like rationing. If money is an issue rationing makes sense and teaches the birds to forage for their own food.

Wishing you the best.