Baby Chicks Not Eating Chick Starter

[MsBoPeep]

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie chicken owner and I need some advice because my week old chicks really seem to not like the chick starter and a lot gets wasted. I have the non-medicated chick starter by Manna Pro (this was all they had at our local feed store) and they do eat it but like I said they like to get in the dish and kick it around all over and leave the majority of it uneaten...everyone appears to be healthy and in good spirits but I'm nervous there might be some underlying issue!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup chicks are wasteful little ingrates. I no longer stop them from playing in their food (so they end up with quite a bit of it in the bedding), but as I have adult birds as well I let them handle clean up duty, since they're always thrilled to eat chick feed.

 

[MsBoPeep]

I figure I throw away 90% of the chick feed with the soiled bedding and they eat all the rest.

I see now this is a universal problem and not just specific to my chicks haha

 

[rosemarythyme]

For reference, this is how big chick grit should be - any hard rock of appropriate size will do:

 

[MsBoPeep]

I'm jealous of your beach sand!

Honestly, I don't give mine grit at all because they get it on their own once they're outside (or if I give them a clump of grass in the brooder). But it certainly doesn't hurt.

It's nice to have in that regard yes but if you want to plant a garden or do anything else it's the worst! Haha.. I'll probably leave them some age appropriate grit just in case

I would advise caution with the sand - at just 1 week old, they may confuse it with food & gorge on it. Just be ready to remove it, if necessary. Try giving them a wet mash - just 1-2 tablespoons of chick starter with equal parts water in a shallow dish or plastic lid; let the water fully absorb, then stir a tiny bit. They usually think it's a treat! Side note: they don't even need grit until they are eating non-feed foods.

I would advise caution with the sand - at just 1 week old, they may confuse it with food & gorge on it. Just be ready to remove it, if necessary. Try giving them a wet mash - just 1-2 tablespoons of chick starter with equal parts water in a shallow dish or plastic lid; let the water fully absorb, then stir a tiny bit. They usually think it's a treat! Side note: they don't even need grit until they are eating non-feed foods.

I took it out because that's exactly what was happening they were just eating it like food.I was afraid they were going to get sick. I'll try the wet mash, thank you.

 

[Isadora]

Chickens can get pretty messy when they eat. I bet they're eating enough, they just like to scratch it around. What kind of a feeder do you have? The ones I like to use for chicks have the barriers on top so they can't actually scratch the food out.
Something similar to this:

 

[raingarden]

I figure I throw away 90% of the chick feed with the soiled bedding and they eat all the rest.

 

[kerbotx]

I would advise caution with the sand - at just 1 week old, they may confuse it with food & gorge on it. Just be ready to remove it, if necessary. Try giving them a wet mash - just 1-2 tablespoons of chick starter with equal parts water in a shallow dish or plastic lid; let the water fully absorb, then stir a tiny bit. They usually think it's a treat! Side note: they don't even need grit until they are eating non-feed foods.

 

[MsBoPeep]

For reference, this is how big chick grit should be - any hard rock of appropriate size will do:
View attachment 2968014

They didn't have any grit specifically for chicks at our local feed store just poultry grit which seems to have smaller bits in it too so I try to scoop out just the smaller bits for them. Thank you for sharing this it is helpful!

 

[MsBoPeep]

I've been using the lid to a mason jar but I do have a chick feeder..they seemed happier being able to get in it lol