Adding some sod to brooder?

[mistymeadowchicks]

Quote:
X2! Leave it in the brooder off to the side. Mine were terrified, but by the next morning dirt was everywhere & only the roots were left from the grass. Their 2nd clump got attacked as I was setting in! They'll figure it out I'm doing it for the exact reason ddawn posted--I want them to start building immunity early to what they're going to find when they get outside.

 

[Dannee]

I'm giggling with you all.....due to the fact that I will be introducing fresh grass here as soon as it warms up a bit...my girls seem so "Ta Ta".....praying they grow out of it.....thanks for the laugh...it's contageous you know

 

[wolftracks]

OK everyone but just a couple are having a blast and chesing eachother got a blade of grass. LOL

Just counted. Out of 25 total only 4 are being wallflowers. ROFL

The tiny ones are all into this and my day old is more into the grass than it was the water and starter.

 

[suzyQlou]

Thanks for your replies. I'm definitely going to try this!

 

[suzyQlou]

The chicks loved their sod today. One of them found a worm, and ran like crazy. She was determined not to share, and hid in a corner to enjoy it.

Thanks again for reassuring me that adding sod was going to be ok. Now I need to be sure that I'm finding good wormy patches of grass.

 

[bs288]

I put some in about 3 weeks old. they first gathered around it stretching their necks real tall then ran away. By the next day grass, sod and roots were all gone. They are so funny.

 

[OEF5]

Old thread, but that's what search is for!!!

So I know this is good for them, they get grit, food, scratching, and play time out of it. My question is this, is it too early at 4 day old chicks? My thought is that had they been born outside under a hen, they would already be doing it from day one so they will be fine. I pulled one stalk of grass that had seed on it and held it in my hand last night a few of them pecked and pulled at it, but I didn't leave it as they don't have any grit yet.

 

[St Pete Chick]

I know this is an old post but I'm pretty sure I just lost 2 of my pullets today due to the new sod we put in the run. We had a bad storm 3 weeks ago and it got real muddy in there so we decided to make the ground higher with sod. Within 10 days 2 of the 3 hens I had croaked the same way. Perfectly normal one day, listless in the morning, unable to stand then dead by noon. Do not chance it. A lot of Sod is treated for bugs that is toxic to chickens.

 

[Ajvilla7]

I have been putting a patch of grass or moss with their roots on a plate and leave it inside their box and my 3 weeks old 10 little hens go crazy attacking the patch of dirt, last week when they were 2 weeks old i gave them a whole plant with primroses attached that I raised in my garden "no pesticides" in it, first they pecked at all of the red flowers and loved the plant, i came in the room to check on them 2 hrs. later and the root of the plant was completely clean. I was laughing totally loved it.

 

[debid]

I have been putting a patch of grass or moss with their roots on a plate and leave it inside their box and my 3 weeks old 10 little hens go crazy attacking the patch of dirt, last week when they were 2 weeks old i gave them a whole plant with primroses attached that I raised in my garden "no pesticides" in it, first they pecked at all of the red flowers and loved the plant, i came in the room to check on them 2 hrs. later and the root of the plant was completely clean.  I was laughing totally loved it.

Primrose is toxic for cats and dogs. I don't know about poultry but wouldn't give it to confined chicks knowing that. When they're out ranging, they generally avoid the toxic plants since there are plenty of non-toxic options. But confined pets have been known to make themselves sick eating plants they shouldn't eat for lack of choices.