1 week old chicks

[AlanaIRL]

I am a first time chicken mom and have 6 chicks that are 1 week old. They are starting to fly and are pecking a lot trying to forage. They seem kind of bored. Is there any recommendation for treats or something besides their chick starter we can put in the pine shavings to help them have something to forage for besides each other’s poop? I clean it out several times a day, but of course there is still poop with 6 chicks. Any enrichment kinda of things we can put in their bin to give them something to do?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

A clump of dirt with grass is always a big hit. Are they on medicated feed?

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I got mine a chick size roosting bar. I also added a clump of grass and dirt from the yard. They love it, but it also strengthens their immune systems. I put plastic cat toys in there with them. Think the little balls with bells inside. Nothing they could peck small bits off of.

As they got bigger, I added small branches to climb on. At 2 weeks old, we started taking daily field trips outside. We have a secure run I could put them in, but I still sat with them because we have cats around. That was their favorite thing ever.

 

[AlanaIRL]

A clump of dirt with grass is always a big hit. Are they on medicated feed?

Yes, they are on medicated chick starter

 

[Cynthia12]

Yes, they are on medicated chick starter

It may be just me here...but I always gave them the starter for only 3 or 4 days then stopped it.

 

[kattabelly]

Take them outside if your weather allows it or there's enough shelter. They'll be fine off heat for a short while unless it's freezing, just don't let them get wet or exposed to a lot of wind. Sometimes a box of hay/straw or similar will be enough for them to snuggle up together and warm up enough to stay outside for longer. Do supervised trips if you don't have anywhere secure enough to leave them.

The rest of the time, bring the outdoors in to them as much as you can. Give them soil and some grit to dig through and eat and dust bath in. Cut some turf if there's a spot you can do that. Bring them a bunch of weeds or other greens that they can eat - at this age you might need to choose softer leaves and make a few little tears in the edges to start them off, and they'll find it easier to rip mouthfuls from a piece of plant that's big and heavy enough to stay in place when they peck at it. Think stuff like a whole mature dandelion plant including the root, rather than individual leaves. A pile of dry-ish dead leaves to scratch around in and hunt for insects will be really fun for them. Add some branches or other things they can perch on and start to get used to moving around in three dimensions.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

It may be just me here...but I always gave them the starter for only 3 or 4 days then stopped it.

The medicated, or starter altogether?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Yes, they are on medicated chick starter

Ok in that case they need exposure to soil/dirt to benefit from the medicated feed anyway so whatever course you decide to take it should definitely involve dirt from your chicken run/yard

Edit to add: medicated feed doesn’t do anything unless they are exposed to the bacteria in the environment that it is meant to help them build resistance to. Hope that makes sense

 

[rosemarythyme]

x2 on taking them outdoors if weather permits and you have a chick safe enclosure ready for them. Any photos of the brooder? They do get bored if all they have is a tub with bedding and nothing else.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A box of dirt to wallow in will be a big hit. You know, a dust bath! Maybe something like a big cardboard shoe box or boot box with dirt and sand. They'll love it. Put some chick grit in it too, they need that anyway.