What age did you start restricting feed?

[Oceanseve]

From what I've read its usually 3 weeks right? These buggers are 1 week old, heavy, eating like mad, and beginning to lose fluff on their chests already. Should I start resticting now?

 

[TexasVet]

If you let them eat as much as they want, at nearly any age, they'll grow faster than their legs can support them. My neighbor did that and they ended up looking like baseballs with legs! Couldn't even stand up... they'd just flop around until they got to the feeder.

I had to put them on a restricted diet of high-protein feed for a few days to save them.

Kathy, Bellville TX

 

[bigredfeather]

Many on the BYC have suggested starting at two weeks. I was reading on a hatchery website that said to start as early as 6 days. IMO the earlier you start, the less likely you are to have problems. The result of starting earlier is that it may take longer to get to the desired butchering weight.

 

[Patchesnposies]

I always do 12 hours on and 12 hours off. As soon as we get them. I never restrict water though.

They do great. I am too scatter-brained to try and keep track of when to restrict-it just works out fine to do it from day one.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Quote:
That's what I do, and I do that from day 1. They get rations instead of eating themselves to death 24/7.

 

[Lmarie]

I always thought chickens would only eat what they needed..at least that's how I thought they were different from other animals. I have never had any over eat...

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Quote:
Meat birds (Cornish Rock crosses) will literally eat themselves to death. They go so fast when they eat this way and it causes a lot of health problems for them.

 

[Lmarie]

That makes sense, I see alot of pictures of overweight meat birds...

 

[pixiechic]

I was just wondering about this. I have two Cornish Rocks in with the rest of my chicks and they are eating like crazy. If the food runs out and I stick my hand in there to refill it, they will try to eat my hand. They're about 3 weeks old and are 2-3 times the size of my other chicks. The other day I suggested they were part cow or maybe buffalo, and DH said, "At least we know where buffalo wings come from now."

I can do 12 hours on/12 hours off no problem, but that wouldn't be good for the remaining chicks, right? So I'll need to separate the fat girls?