Best foods for chicks besides the basic starter feed

[Chickassan]

My young ones get live mealworms, boiled eggs and very sparingly watermelon or cantaloupe. Always make sure they have grit though. I vary the diet early on so grit goes out on day three or four.
The live mealies are great, they stimulate their foraging insticts and are a huge boredom buster not to mention one of the best training aids ever.

 

[chickens really]

When I Brood Chicks without Mommas I use sand in the Brooder with Grit and all is fantastic...They eat veggies and pick on grasses plus dust bath early..

 

[Shadrach]

I fed starter grower medicated 20% till 8 weeks with chick grit. At 3-4 weeks started greens and dried mealworms in small treat form. At 8 weeks switched to 18% starter grower nonmedicated Natures Best organic and switched to poultry grit on the side. I used crumble when young. I Ferment feed except when below freezing as it freezes. I feed dry then. I started OS at 15 weeks per recommmended ratio. I switched to Big Sky organic no corn or soy layer mash at 28 weeks laying stage. I still occasionally will feed dried mealworms, greens, or homemade treat block. Keep in mind treats stay at 10% or less of total daily intake. Occasionally I make a Greek yogurt snack with herbs, berries, and dried mealworms.

I have to ask, where did this 10% treats rule come from and what exactly did they define as treats?

 

[chickens really]

Treats are anything other than the regular feed because the feed is nutritional and complete.
Actually it's more like 5% in order to keep Birds and especially layers correct...

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Basic starter feed is the best choice. Easy Breazy lemon squeezy as my daughter would say. First bag medicated around here.

Gary

 

[Chickassan]

Envious, the one time I tried that it was just a sand eating party.
So it is just alfalfa hay now.

When I Brood Chicks without Mommas I use sand in the Brooder with Grit and all is fantastic...They eat veggies and pick on grasses plus dust bath early..

 

[Criticalicious]

I used Scratch N Peck starter free fed dry with FF offered in the morning. When they got bigger, I switched to New Country Organics grower because it's half the price and available locally. Age-appropriate Grit should always be offered.

As for chick treats, they weren't interested in much of anything until 3 or 4 weeks. And then it was live mealworms or small live crickets in moderation. They LOOOOVVVEEED the crickets. I had one pullet who was shy and not sure about mealworms, but when she saw crickets she turned into a lively little vacuum cleaner. Now she always comes running when I visit the coop. She's grown into my friendliest bird.

At 3-4 weeks, you can also offer clumps of grass - dirt and all - from the yard to help build their immune systems. If you have dandelions especially in spring, pull one of those. Shake it off, but don't wash it. They may freak out at first, but they'll quickly learn it's good food.

Any treats you offer, depending on the consistency, if it's something they can't easily break up on their own, you may want to cut up into chick bite size pieces.

 

[chickens really]

Envious, the one time I tried that it was just a sand eating party.
So it is just alfalfa hay now.

Well that's crazy...

 

[Chickassan]

Faverolles aren't smart babies.

Well that's crazy...

 

[chickens really]

Faverolles aren't smart babies.

Not many are though..