Good treats for baby chicks?

I'm new to this and trying to be as prepared as possible when the chicks arrive. I have a few questions about treats for baby chicks.
Think of how you care for the various birds you see flitting about your yard. Bluejays, blue birds, red cardinals, hummingbirds, etc. They are hatched far up in a tree or nest we seldom, if ever, see. They are not 'on the light at all. They eat whatever bugs an such momma upchucks until they et out and about on their own. I which case they feed upon whatever's on the ground - invariably ingesting bits of rock and sand or soil with every other peck or so.

Worms. well, sure, as if and when one presents itself for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

They seem to be omnivores. We regularly toss the scraps left from preparing meals out where they might peck and choose and whatever scraps might be leftover from the meal itself. That, cracked corn mixed with a few crumbles and all the etables they might discover roaming about the grounds seems to result in healthy birds and great eggs for baking!

My neighbor, Joe, would say "You can't poison chickens - they'll eat anything."

Joe, RIP, was born in the proverbial log cabin and had as many years raising chickens as I've lived to date.

Bottom line, don't sweat it - the chickens don't!
 
I have 1 week old chicks in a brooder on chicken starter mash. What grit should I provide? I have crushed oyster shell for my other chickens and also baked, crushed eggshell. Are either of those ok for these little girls?
 
I have the same questions. I didnt see grit in the feed shop and was embarrased to ask- do you just use sand or is there special 'chicken grit' products? Is there an amount to give or do you just 'free feed' it and trust that they know how much to eat? My big girls are almost 3 weeks old and have not had any treats- I would love to give them some. Would giving hard boiled eggs teach them to enjoy the taste of egg? will they eventually ruin their eggs when they are laying because they like the taste?
thank you!
I bought chick grit at Tractor Supply and then bought adult sized grit later.
 
Oyster shell is not grit. It is a calcium supplement for hens and pullets that have started and continue to lay eggs. Younger female chicks don’t need it since they don’t need calcium to harden eggs. It can overload their kidneys but not to worry. Just offer the oyster shell separately from flock raiser feed. The egg laying chickens will be the only one’s interested in eating it.

Grit on the other hand is important for all ages, genders, and breeds. Grit is crushed or ground granite. Chick grit is more finely ground granite to grind food in their gizzard.. Pea sized granite grit is used by the adults for food and also to crush the oyster shell into paste so it can be absorbed and use to harden egg shells.
 
My four week old chicks are crazy for dandelion flowers. what about giving them grass clippings or dandelion flowers or a couple of sprigs from a spearmint plant?
My understanding is that these animals know what they like and con be trusted to discriminate . I have given them grass/weed clippings, flowers and such and some have 'eaten it all up' and sometimes there is no interest. Our adult birds free range over several acres (and onto the neighbor's properties as well!) so I can't be sure what they really like - but have watched them eat (or peck at) a variety of plant life,
It is Melon Season and we eat the tasty flesh and share the rinds and seeds with our hens. They seem to like them very much - after Halloween, we break up the pumpkin and let the birds have at it.
 
To date, my 4 week old chicks have gotten chick starter/grower and chick grit. I will be giving them some snipped grass/greens tomorrow, probably, for their first treat.

By snipped I mean, 1/4" or smaller bits, and just a little bit, 3-4 pieces each.
 

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