Every new flock owner has had a moment of wondering, "Wait, am I doing this right?"

In those moments, there's no better friend to phone than Nutritionist and Chick Expert Dr. Patrick Biggs, Ph.D. We asked Dr. Biggs some of the most-asked chick owner questions, and his answers will hopefully put any new chick parents’ minds at ease.

Q: How much should I be feeding my chicks each day?

A: Just make sure there's always food in front of them. Free-choice feeding is the way to go. Unlike dogs or cats, chickens don't overeat. They graze continuously throughout the day, eating to meet their needs and self-regulating naturally.

Chicken feeders are designed to hold 20-30 pounds of feed for this exact reason. Fill them up, then let your flock do the rest!

Q: Does it really matter what I feed my chicks?

A: The most important decision you'll ever make for your birds is what you feed them when you bring them home. So, yes! And those early weeks are when it matters most.

In the first 28 days, a chick grows to roughly seven times her hatch weight. That kind of rapid growth calls for nutrition that can keep up. The Purina team and I helped formulate Farm to Flock^® 20% Starter Food with exactly this in mind. Plus, it’s the ideal size for tiny beaks. We have small birds, so we use small ingredients.

Q: Do I need to switch feeds as my chicks grow?

A: As a chick gets to 4 or 5 weeks, the body starts to slow down its growth rate, and energy and calories become more important. What they need from their diet shifts, and that’s where a grower feed comes in.

Farm to Flock^® 18% Grower Food makes the shift simple, transitioning their not-so-tiny beaks from crumbles to mini pellets, while also bringing in more grains and seeds growing birds can enjoy.

We've got nine different grains and seeds in there — still on the smaller side to make sure the birds can eat those ingredients at 5 weeks of age.

But if you’re not sure if your chicks are ready, here’s a simple test. Have both the Starter and the Grower Food in the pen and see how the birds respond. When you see they're starting to consume more Grower Food, you can phase out the Starter.

Q: How do I know if my chicks are healthy?

A: The best thing to look at is behavior. Are they active? Are they wandering around? Are they doing things you'd expect a chicken to do?

Healthy chicks are curious, active and engaged. Behavior outside of that ordinary will alert you if something's off.

A quick scan of the flock can help, too. Are all your chicks roughly the same size? Consistency is a good sign that everyone is getting what they need.

Q: I'm overwhelmed by all the options. Where do I start?

A: Feeding your birds should be the simplest part of this experience. Start by thinking about what matters most to you, whether it’s whole ingredients or convenience.

Get clear on your needs and choose a complete feed that fits. Then, get feeding and enjoy time with your chickens! We've done the hard work to make sure that the feed provides the best nutrition.

Ready to put Dr. Biggs' advice into action? The Farm to Flock^® 1-2-3 System takes the guesswork out of what to feed and when, from first peeps to first eggs.

And for everything else that comes with new chick ownership, the Farm to Flock Chick Care Guide has you covered.