Baby Chicks Won't Eat

[Chiks N Stiks]

I am trying out fermented freed. Maybe I did something wrong? I mixed their feed and some rolled oats, 1cup each, 3 cups water, 3 tbs ACV with mother. (I don't have many chicks.) I let set for a few days, nice and ripe! I put it in the container where they eat so that they would naturally go there to eat. They approach, shake their heads, and walk away. Some had dried, they would eat that. One chick pecked at a little I had spilled that had less fluid in it.

Did I let the feed ferment too long?
Is too fluidy for them? It is pretty sloppy.
Will it loose all it's good stuff from fermenting if I let it dry out to feed them?
Is there something in particular I should do for baby chicks -- my hen LOVES the stuff!
If I don't feed the baby chicks anything else, will they go ahead and eat it and just get used to it without starving themselves?

What went wrong?! Help! Thx!!

 

[enola]

You don't need vinegar to get FF to work.

 

[Chiks N Stiks]

Ok. Why do people say to use ACV with the mother then? What benefit does it provide?

 

[Folly's place]

Why not feed the balanced chick starter/ grower feed available at the feed store? It's formulated to be perfect for the chicks without modifications.. Much easier; foolproof, even. Mary