[Colernehens]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but at the moment I am leaving chick crumb and water available in the brooder 24 hrs a day. (chicks are 6 days old)

Is this right, and if until what age do I continue to leave it out 24hrs a day?

Many thanks

[Casey76]

My chicks have food and water available 24/7 in the brooder until they go outside into the coops.

If you have a white or red heat lamp, you will probably find that they chicks eat constantly over the 24 hour period and grow quickly.  In this instance, you may want to take away the food for about 8 hours per day to prevent weight problems.

If you are using an electric hen, the chicks will have anormal sleep/wake cycle with the sun, and not eat over night.  This means that they do not gain weight so quickly, but i prefer this as it seems to grow a healthier chick (in my limited experience).

[Colernehens]

Thanks that's a great help, we have a red light so they are as you say awake all the time as yes they do seem to eat constantly and we were concerned they may not know when enough was enough.

I think we might for now just let them have enough food to last them all day, but not top it up at night so once its finish during the night, its finished. Then just refill first thing in the morning, and work towards removing it for 8 hours over night in the next week or so once they are a bit bigger.

Does that sound sensible?