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treats without grit?

post #1 of 10
5/2/12 at 9:42am
Thread Starter 

My chicks are 12 days old now and I don't have any grit yet. I will be getting some soon, but I was wondering if there are any treats they can have without grit? Can they have yogurt or applesauce or oatmeal? Maybe soft cooked veggies? I know the grit is to help them grind and digest bits of food since they can't chew it, so I was just wondering if the treats are softer, can they have them without grit?

 

Thanks!

Home schooling mom of 5 kids with 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 6 little chicks.

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Home schooling mom of 5 kids with 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 6 little chicks.

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post #2 of 10
5/2/12 at 9:46am

Yogurt is okay - sprinkle it with the chick crumbles and they will go nuts!

We have a dozen different breeds of chickens and we love them all!

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We have a dozen different breeds of chickens and we love them all!

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post #3 of 10
5/2/12 at 9:50am
Chick grit is only $1.50 here. I would rather spend the money and get it than risk them having an impacted crop hmm.png

LES Farms

Currently breeding Silkies in White and Blue. Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Visit our COOP Page!

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

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LES Farms

Currently breeding Silkies in White and Blue. Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Visit our COOP Page!

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

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post #4 of 10
5/2/12 at 9:52am
Thread Starter 

Agreed. I mostly asked out of curiosity. I'd heard about the yogurt being ok and wondered if there were other things I can give them. It's not so much about the cost as the availability. We don't have a working vehicle right now, so I have to order it online and wait for it to get here. smile.png

Home schooling mom of 5 kids with 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 6 little chicks.

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Home schooling mom of 5 kids with 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 6 little chicks.

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post #5 of 10
5/2/12 at 10:00am

Do they have to have grit for the rest of their lives? Or is it just while they are young??? Mine have grit in their brooder but to be quite honest, I never see them eating it?? The only treat I have been giving them is wheat bread which they absolutely LOVE!

Mom to a bunch of German Shepherds, 6 Red Sex Links and 6 Barred Rocks!

 

http://www.johnsonhaus.com

http://www.carolinak9photography.com

 

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Mom to a bunch of German Shepherds, 6 Red Sex Links and 6 Barred Rocks!

 

http://www.johnsonhaus.com

http://www.carolinak9photography.com

 

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post #6 of 10
5/2/12 at 10:04am

Once they are outside, they will get thier own grit from the ground. They need to at least have access to it when they are still in their brooder. Mine never appeared to eat it but I could kinda feel the tiny stones in their crop so they were eating it at some point.

~lenore~

 

 

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~lenore~

 

 

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post #7 of 10
5/2/12 at 10:10am

Oh ok, cool! Thanks! :)

Mom to a bunch of German Shepherds, 6 Red Sex Links and 6 Barred Rocks!

 

http://www.johnsonhaus.com

http://www.carolinak9photography.com

 

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Mom to a bunch of German Shepherds, 6 Red Sex Links and 6 Barred Rocks!

 

http://www.johnsonhaus.com

http://www.carolinak9photography.com

 

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post #8 of 10
5/2/12 at 10:14am
Withhold it for a week and you will see how much they eat it tongue.png If they don't have access to grit in their chicken yard naturally, you will have to supplement. I noticed one of my chicks adjusting their crop (moving it around trying to grind up their food - day 2 - no treats were given) and I threw down a bit of chick grit and they went straight for it. You can sprinkle it in their bedding. They like to find it themselves rather than go to a feeder and get it. At least from my experience. Even if I don't give treats, I have it available.

At 3 weeks old they can be switched to chicken grit (grower) - not the stuff with the oyster shell mixed in.

To the OP: You could make your own from going for a walk and finding bits of gravel. Crush it up with a hammer and wash it. It's really simple.

LES Farms

Currently breeding Silkies in White and Blue. Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Visit our COOP Page!

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Currently breeding Silkies in White and Blue. Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Visit our COOP Page!

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #9 of 10
5/2/12 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 

Thanks aoxa! That is really helpful. Our driveway is largely rock/gravel with LOTS of tiny bits of rock/dust. So that would be a very easy source for them. We have some volunteer lettuce growing outside of our garden that I wanted to let them have. I suppose if I let them forage around on the driveway (runs through the middle of our yard, up to the back porch with grass all around) for grit, then I could let them have some lettuce.
 

Home schooling mom of 5 kids with 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 6 little chicks.

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Home schooling mom of 5 kids with 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 6 little chicks.

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post #10 of 10
5/2/12 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlabresh View Post

Thanks aoxa! That is really helpful. Our driveway is largely rock/gravel with LOTS of tiny bits of rock/dust. So that would be a very easy source for them. We have some volunteer lettuce growing outside of our garden that I wanted to let them have. I suppose if I let them forage around on the driveway (runs through the middle of our yard, up to the back porch with grass all around) for grit, then I could let them have some lettuce.

 
For sure smile.png And chicks LOVE greens!

LES Farms

Currently breeding Silkies in White and Blue. Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Visit our COOP Page!

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Currently breeding Silkies in White and Blue. Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Visit our COOP Page!

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
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