ANYONE??? Can my 9 week-old BR chicks have cracked corn & wheat grain?

[Carrie Lynn]

I had been letting them have it this week but then wondered if I was doing the right thing by giving them these treats. They do have access to grit.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Erica]

Yes, as long as the overall ration is balanced. They need higher protein than is in wheat and corn. However as a treat it's good, or if you're creating a balanced ration yourself out of grains, legumes, oilseeds, protein concentrate etc then it's quite fine to use these grains in the mix.

 

[dianaross77]

Sounds just fine! Try giving them some black oil sunflower seeds, too.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Thanks so much for answering

I will add BOSS, and make certain it's only a treat, not feed.

 

[TwoCrows]

Cracked corn is great for them, but during all this summer heat, keep it to a minimum. Corn adds heat to the body. I make a mix of cracked corn, scratch, black oil sunflower hearts, millet and some unsalted nuts to the mix. The girls stampede me to get to this stuff. Come winter, I will up the corn content so as to stoke their inner furnaces.

 

[Tracydr]

Actually, corn does not add heat. This is a long lived wives tale. All energy, or calories provide heat. Corn is simply another source of concentrated calories.

 

[Alethea]

Yes. Just make sure most of their intake is feed, which is formulated to be a balanced diet. We wait until 4:00 p.m. to give them their snack. That way they've had all day to eat feed. may the flock be with you.