Roosting Poles and Feed

For one reason or another, chickens love to roost when they're resting. One way to prevent them from playing with their waterer and feeder is to provide roosting poles about 5 inches off the ground to prevent them from roosting on the waterer and the feeder.

The most common question of newbies is how much food they should give their birds. The answer: as much as they want! Give your chickens 24/7 access to all the food they can eat since they can regulate themselves unlike other pets.

Buying chicken feed is pretty straightforward. Feed suppliers manufacture special baby chicks feed complete with everything they need. If you have had your baby chicks vaccinated against Coccidiosis, they you have to give them un-medicated feed. If not, or if they have only been vaccinated for Marek's Disease, medicated feed is the surest way to keep them healthy during the first few months.

Depending on the formulation of the feeds, baby chicks can be on starter feed for about 4 weeks before moving on to a combination of starter/grower for the next 16 weeks. Read the manufacturer’s recommendations on the feed bag to be on the safe side.

You can also give your baby chicks food scraps, worms, bugs including small amounts of vegetable and dairy. Do this only as a treat and not on a regular basis. They need all the nutrients they can get from the starter feed and giving them treats can jeopardize their health and nutritional balance.