Age to introduce fermented grains?

[Godiva]

I have a couple of 4 week old chicks that I am wondering if they are ready to start eating fermented grains? They love the fermented mush, but I'd like to start transitioning them to the soaked grains soon. When is a good age to do this please?

 

[Perris]

My chicks have a choice of chick feed and fermented/soaked grains from day 1, as my broodies raise their brood with the flock, and both types of feed are available close by each other at the feeding station when we've enjoyed a hatch. All chicks give it a go, following the broody's guidance (she prefers ff), but most prefer the chick feed, at least for the first few weeks. So you could try offering both mush and grains, and see what your birds prefer.

 

[Godiva]

Thanks Perris! I'm going to offer it and see how they do.

 

[PioneerChicks]

If the grains are part of a chick starter and the chicks are big enough to swallow them, then it would be fine to start. Adult feeds don't have enough protein for growing chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would make sure they have grit available. Past that, no reason they can't try it. My chicks start eating fermented starter (a broken grain mash) at around 3 weeks.