At what age to give chicks treats?

[Cindy2348]

I was wondering what age you start to give your chicks treats and what you would start with. Mine are now 4.5 weeks. They are outside in a tractor and get lots of grass, clover and bugs that they find but would like to give them some special treats now and again.
Thanks

 

[MonkeyZero]

Id say go for it, but go light. Dont give to many treats, though

Here is a WONDERFUL treat chart!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[Marlinchaser]

Ideally they should only get chick starter, but that said, if they are outside eating grass/bugs etc... I would let them have some treats, but like anything else just dont make it the main portion of thier diet. If you had a broody hen she would be grabbing whatever treats you gave and giving them to her babies, so she must know best.

 

[LittleFeat]

My chicks are 2 weeks old and I put them in their run each day for a little "fun" time so they can run around. Yesterday while digging a trench for a cable, I dug up a big fat earthworm and I gave it to them. They ran around chasing each other for bits of it for the longest time. I don't consider that TREATS....that is free exercise class.

I have offered them some honeydew melon but they didn't want it. Lettuce, nope, tiny pieces of carrot they liked.

I have also noticed that they don't drink much out of the big waterer that's in their run but as soon as I put them back in the brooder, they head for the smaller waterer and drink, and drink, and drink. Oh don't tell me I've already got something else that is "set in their ways"!! My DH is already bad enough!

 

[Cindy2348]

Thanks for the info, I have them some little pieces of grapes yesterday and they really enjoyed them and it was lots of entertainment!!!