Two very important questions.

My chicks are now a week old and I saw where I should add some grit to their brooder in prep for some treats such as egg and kale etc. I added some to their feed and the read another article that said not to mix in the food give seperately. I would love your input since this is my first batch of babies.

The other question is I rehab and release baby squirrels. I have an outdoor release cage for the squirrels that is about 10 X 10 and perfect for the chicks as they get older until they go my fathers house. My concern was having the chicks take field trips in the release cage could introduce coccidia to my baby squirrels in the spring when I get baby squirrels going again. A friend of mine that sutudied avian said that the cooccidia was different in mammals and poultry. Does anyone know the answer to this? It would be a wonderful set up for the chicks to go outdoors for little stints but I cannot risk either of them crossing harmful coccidia to either.
Thanks so much for any input !!!! Having a ball with the chicks. One week old now. All doing wonderful.

Add the grit separate.

Clean the cage before you use it for a different type of animal and you should be fine as far as any sanitation conditions that would cause the transfer of germs of bacteria.

Here's a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Go outside and dig up a fist-size clump of sod. Leave the grass and dirt attached and place in a small saucer. Place in the brooder for the chicks to dig in and munch on. The soil will inoculate the chicks against pathogens occurring around your place, and the soil has natural grit in it that the chicks will consume. No need to go out and buy it as long as your soil has naturally occurring pebbles and stones in it.

And yes, avian cocci is different than other strains. I wouldn't worry overly much about it.

Honestly there is no benefit to giving chicks treats other than a person's sense of "treating" a loved pet. To the chicks themselves the high protein starter crumbles is what's best for them. For the minimal amount of "treats" a chick should get there is no need of providing grit. Catching a few house flies or few small pieces of worm don't need grit. For that matter the intestinal tract of earth worms is grit. Worms were often the proscribed treatment for ailing chicks in the late 19th century. This would be when brooding indoors was starting and no universal feed was available. What was noted from this was chicks needed grit to aid in digestion of the feed they were given at that time hence the worms. We've got a universal no grit needed feed that's perfect for the first three weeks of growth available in the 21st century. It's a personal choice how you raise birds and I choose to not give chicks treats until they are out of brooder and outside to obtain there own grit.

I have always given mine clumps of sod too, keeps them busy and gets them used to my soil slowly. I don't do treats until they are part of the big birds flock.

I read no treats needed as well. I was thinking in a week of giving meal worms as a small treat and I thought they needed grit for anything given to them other than their feed.
I rehab squirrels and preach to other rehabbers all of the time, that they need a high load of calcium which is derived from their rodent block. Don't give treats or they will not get the calcium load they need. But we can include veggies and other goodies all the time. Just no nuts, seeds etc.
I just read so many different things regarding the chicks and thought maybe they should be getting some veggies or worms by age two weeks. I am happy to give only feed.
I am using manna pro medicated BTW.
Thanks so much for input. I will listen

Thanks Azygus and all will do regarding clumps of soil. The squirrels that have been in that release cage do not have, or have not had coccidian. When they are out for release they are healthy and ready to go. So I am not worried about putting chicks out there. Was worried about chicks leaving something behind but I feel better. I was not lazy, I really did look up on here about the issue of coccidia but didn't get a clear answer.

My daughter is handicapped. High functioning but having a rough time and loves animals and she is having so much fun with the process with the chicks. They will be leaving me to go to my fathers back yard chicken area. So I will gather some of his soil with grass to give to the chicks to get them ready.


He has a special run created for the new kids when they are ready. Totally safe with four sides chicken wire and roof but will be able to interact with his other chickens through the wire to prepare them to free range together.
Thanks so much.