feeding schedule for baby chicks

[llcardinale]

Hello Everyone,
I've read some that chicks shouldn't be over-fed, at about one pound weekly, dispensed beginning at intervals of every two hours. I don't know how this approach can be reasonably managed. I have two baby chick feeders and two waterers that are always kept full for nine, week-old chicks. Any feedback from experienced folks would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nuthatched]

Meat birds that you're attempting to extend the lifespan of shouldn't be free feed but all others should.

 

[Finnie]

Your setup sounds good. I would continue with that.

I’ve never heard of feeding chicks every two hours! How absurd! The only kind of chicks that I’ve heard of restricting intake for are meat chickens, if you are trying to get them to grow more slowly. But that would be at a later stage in their lives. Not when they are bitty chicks.

 

[llcardinale]

Your setup sounds good. I would continue with that.

I’ve never heard of feeding chicks every two hours! How absurd! The only kind of chicks that I’ve heard of restricting intake for are meat chickens, if you are trying to get them to grow more slowly. But that would be at a later stage in their lives. Not when they are bitty chicks.

 

[llcardinale]

Thank you, that's a relief. I read it from a VCA academic article. My first thought was that the article was written by academics who have no experience with chicks. I'll never understand why some people bother to write about things of which they have no real knowledge. Thanks again (--from a first time chick/chicken mom)

 

[Finnie]

Thank you, that's a relief. I read it from a VCA academic article. My first thought was that the article was written by academics who have no experience with chicks. I'll never understand why some people bother to write about things of which they have no real knowledge. Thanks again (--from a first time chick/chicken mom)

What VCA are you referring to? (I tried to look it up but results didn’t seem pertinent.)

 

[llcardinale]

Meat birds that you're attempting to extend the lifespan of shouldn't be free feed but all others should.

Thank you for your response--very helpful.

 

[llcardinale]

What VCA are you referring to? (I tried to look it up but results didn’t seem pertinent.)

It was a VCA article. I don't know the specific author or hospital. Reading it made me nervous as a first time chick/chicken mom. I hadn't seen anything else with that info, but it made me wonder if I'd missed something in my research before getting my chicks.

 

[Finnie]

I meant, what does VCA stand for

 

[llcardinale]

It's the name of a franchise, or group, of vet hospitals. I don't know what it stands for, other than that the "V" probably stands for veterinary.