[iwantanallotment]

Sorry for yet another query 

I'm just wondering re my three 6-week olds - should I have food available for them 24/24, or withdraw it before dusk like the older girls?

Just asking because I've never kept a hen under 16 weeks and maybe the rules are different?

I had withdrawn their feed at around 9pm - well not "withdrawn" but not topped up & it was all gone - but they were very noisy and I didn't know if they were missing their broody, hungry, or both.....so I gave them more food, and that seems to be what they wanted as they gobbled it up & quietened down.

What is the given practice re 6 week olds please? I'd be very grateful for any info, I really want to do this right and raise strong, healthy birds.

Thank you 

ps - I also gave them a feather duster, in case they were pining for broody, but they didn't want to know it at all 

[chickenlady]

Hello! i leave food down all the time for my babies! at 6 wks mine are on growers and they are eating me out of house and home 

Debbie

[joyfull]

ps - I also gave them a feather duster, in case they were pining for broody, but they didn't want to know it at all 

Well would you want to start doing housework at that age?? 

[Foxy]

this time of year you want them to grow as much as possible ready for the winter, keep them on chick crumb ad lib till about 8 weeks them switch to grower until they start laying even a bit longer on crumb if they are large fowl are they large or bantam?

[iwantanallotment]

They are cuckoo marans, Foxy. When I got them they were already on growers so I've just continued that, but will add chick crumb now as well.
Thanks both for the advice.
  @ joyfull!

EDIT: No they're not, they're 7/8 Welsummer, 1/8 Barnevelder. Sorry. Just found a sick hen so in a tiswas about her.