OMG, 3 weeks old and gone through 50lbs of feed.

[Reyvaughn]

Quote:
Hahaha!

Yeah, I tell myself that, too... As 6 or more chicks are jumping into a box to come home with me.

I just opened my 2nd 50lb bag. My outside tweens still have about 20lbs in their feeder. My indoor brood of 39 chicks (2 days to almost 3 weeks old) are going through 16 cups of feed a day. Sadly, most of it is in the bottom of the brooder, so I am currently making them scratch and find it. I bet there is at least 4-6 cups just wasted in there. I have a plan to fix that. I bought large, 14" planter bottoms to make my own feeders, but I haven't gotten to that yet. Instead, I am putting their food and water in them to keep shavings out of the water and to catch the wasted food they scratch out all over.

 

[PHarris985]

terry's chicks :

Obviously we don't get chickens to save money? Right? we have spent probably $800. on coop, and run, maybe more. But they are so cute and comforting,we just go sit in the coop and play and love on them, makes you feel good. I'm glad they are healthy and thriving. Good thing we eat a lot of eggs. Still working on the run. need to take pictures and post.

They are our therapy. We've spent about the same on our coop and still have the run to finish. I get my chicks on Sunday and now I'm nervous.​

 

[elabraleon]

My grown hens hardly eat any food. They free range (in the yard) all day and eat all kinds of stuff. I keep their feeder full of feed and give them some oyster shell and treats now and then, but they take a long time to go through a bag of feed... I only have 4 hens, but it takes weeks.
My bb chicks eat a ton though. They are not free to eat whatever they find because they're still in the brooder. so I guess it makes sense.

 

[mdbokc]

Our 16 chicks (this year's purchase) ran through 50# in the first three weeks. I place the feeder in a large serving tray to minimize waste. If the feeder runs out, they eat what they spill onto the tray until I refill the feeder. By the end of week 3, I added the second feeder just to reduce how often they have to be refilled.

 

[greatchicken]

I have 29 8 week old that go through about 50 lb a week and this doesn't include the 30 5 week old in the brooder. They just seem to eat and eat. Plus my wife "needed" some ducks and they eat and eat and eat and eat.....

 

[PapaChaz]

terry's chicks :

Obviously we don't get chickens to save money? Right? we have spent probably $800. on coop, and run, maybe more. But they are so cute and comforting,we just go sit in the coop and play and love on them, makes you feel good. I'm glad they are healthy and thriving. Good thing we eat a lot of eggs. Still working on the run. need to take pictures and post.

you are so right about being comforting, i thought maybe i was just goofy. i'm going through some physical things, hurt at work, not able to do a whole lot. had my first physical therapy session this morning, i mean really, a grown man coming home in tears.....anyway, after feeling sorry for myself for a couple of hours, i went out and opened the gate on the pen, let the hens out to free range a while. came in and got a cup of coffee, went back out and just sat and watched a while, something about the flock wandering and scratching around your feet just makes it seem that everything will be ok.....so yeah, they're gonna cost me more than they'll ever save me on eggs, but having them around is definitely worth it....​

 

[Hopeful Peacock]

I love your post Papa Chaz.

 

[KZ]

It ain't chicken feed.

 

[PapaChaz]

Quote:
thanks! i love this website, i've learned so much here and hope i'm able to help a few along the way

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Yep, I am going tomorrow to pick up my second bag of chick starter. I am hoping that will be enough before I switch to grower formula. It isn't pretty!