Voracious chicks !

[WWolf]

I just got 27 Ancona chicks from McMurray They are very vigorous and EAT well. They eat like no little critters I have ever fed before !
Their little crops are quite plump It seems OK but do all chicks eat like this ?

 

[EngieKisses]

We have some RIR and some Polish chicks, all of them eat like little piglets! They have been healthy from day one though, they are all 4-5 weeks old now.

 

[gritsar]

From the time my chickens were little they've all had Semi-Dolly Parton syndrome. I think some of them would develop second and third crops if they could.

 

[Judy]

That is one reason why -- when they are a little older -- free range is so attractive.

My free range hens eat very little layer feed. They would rather eat grass and bugs from the lawn and woods. I will not take their free range from them. Meanwhile, my chicks are eating huge amounts of their starter/grower.

On the other hand, I lost 15 of 20 of my free rangers to predators since last May, including all 4 roo's. Probably mostly fox: I have removed 3 fox.

Sigh.

I am going to try really large yards this year, a lot more than 10 sq. ft. per bird, for the chicks.