Yikes! They are vultures!

[Elfer]

They eat a lot! I'm getting a Tractor Supply credit card for the discount. Compost the poop and at least you'll get some fine fertilizer back.

 

[Edie53]

All good advice-thanks everyone!

 

[Edie53]

they will eat 5 times what your feeding plus oyster free fed please

What is oyster free? Is that ground-up shells?

 

[Fishkeeper]

Oyster shell, free-fed. There was a comma missing in there, I think. Oyster shell is for calcium, and you also need grit, as, well, grit, for the gizzard. Both should be provided separately from the food, and separately from each other. Grit needs to be provided as soon as you start feeding anything other than chick feed, including treats, oyster shell isn't a bad idea to include from the start as long as you make sure it's ground up really small.

 

[pennyJo1960]

What is oyster free? Is that ground-up shells?

I use oyster shell do not buy grit out here not quite the same as caged birds

 

[danceswithronin]

Definitely have food always available, chicks that are hungry will vent-pick and develop other antisocial habits out of grumpiness if they don't have the constant ability to graze. That's my experience with them anyway. Happy chicks are chicks with a) food/grit, b) water, and c) something to keep them occupied, whether that be a small roosting bar, a few parrot toys, treats, or whatever.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

When my chicks were hatched, I just filled the container and let them devour away like the little pigs that they are..... but soon after they started growing some, I realize it was just waste as they will gorge themselves like goldfish and probably explode so I decided to go with the portion route and feed them a limited daily supply and nothing more. The can cry all they want, I'm not giving in.

 

[Elfer]

I use oyster shell do not buy grit out here not quite the same as caged birds

In 10 yrs. my free range chickens have rarely touched the oyster shell, but devour any egg shells I have. I read that with free ranging they get enough calcium from bugs and dirt. I have had some thin egg layers, though, but could have been from parasites.

 

[Elfer]

When my chicks were hatched, I just filled the container and let them devour away like the little pigs that they are..... but soon after they started growing some, I realize it was just waste as they will gorge themselves like goldfish and probably explode so I decided to go with the portion route and feed them a limited daily supply and nothing more. The can cry all they want, I'm not giving in.

Hens do sometimes die from being overweight. Hence the admonition not to overdo scratch feed and treats.
Little chicks need to be provided all the food they want, but after they're grown, my priceless auto chicken door opens at dawn (I turned off my alarm clock when I retired), and I drink coffee while watching them out the window earning their keep tilling and eating bugs till 10 or so. Then they fly through the air to me while I dispense the wet or fermented Flock Raiser in many dishes so no one gets bullied away. They still eat $20 worth a week, although I do have some freeloading birds and squirrels. Someone told me that they know someone who free ranges chickens and just doesn't feed anything at all. Not sure what breed, how much eggs or meat they get, but I guess the jungle fowl and other feral chickens get by. And the wild birds. I often wonder how they get enough water. of course, they can fly better.

 

[Edie53]

Oyster shell, free-fed. There was a comma missing in there, I think. Oyster shell is for calcium, and you also need grit, as, well, grit, for the gizzard. Both should be provided separately from the food, and separately from each other. Grit needs to be provided as soon as you start feeding anything other than chick feed, including treats, oyster shell isn't a bad idea to include from the start as long as you make sure it's ground up really small.

Great thanks!