Can 2 week old chicks have grit and any treats?

[Clucksandgiggle]

I am wondering when I can give my babies a few dried mealworms. Do they need grit with this? I heard they aren't supposed to have scratch until they are old enough to go outside. Until them can I give the cooked egg yolk and dried mealworms occasionally?

Thanks!

 

[Blackberry18]

I wouldn't recommend feeding those kinds of treats at all, or until older. To me, treats are greens and veggies, but none of that should be given until three weeks of age, and introduce grit in starter food before giving greens.

 

[Clucksandgiggle]

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

If your chicks were being raised by a broody mama hen, she would have been taking her chicks outside since the first week, showing them what to eat and where to find it. She would be scratching all sorts of bugs and seeds up out of the soil and they would be eating it, along with grit naturally found in the soil.

I had a broody hen hatch one egg a few years back, and on the second day, that chick was being fed tiny bits of tortilla his mama was tearing up for him. He not only survived being fed tortillas at two days of age, but went on to grow up to be a very fine, gorgeous Buff Brahma rooster.

The only danger of feeding your chicks treats is to over-do it so they aren't getting as much of their nutritionally balanced chick starter as they should be eating for proper growth and health.

Soft food like boiled egg yolk, yogurt, etc, require no grit, as well as chick starter. But when you begin introducing an occasional lettuce leaf, live meal worms, grapes, etc, offer some grit in the form of sand if you happen to have some, or a bit of dirt from outside.

 

[Clucksandgiggle]

Thanks azygous! I have been feeding them bits of cooked egg yolk just to get them used to my hand not being a danger. Just a few pieces a day so all their nutrition comes from their feed.

I appreciate the input!

 

[silkwormlady]

Ah HA! Here is the answer to my question I posted in a different thread, but same general idea: When to introduce "treats"? Keeping them healthy and happy, and me happy because they associate my hand with goodies and don't panic! (I do get my hand into the brooder by kind of sliding it in and then along the floor, above the litter and ...) Thanks.

 

[silkwormlady]

If your chicks were being raised by a broody mama hen, she would have been taking her chicks outside since the first week, showing them what to eat and where to find it. She would be scratching all sorts of bugs and seeds up out of the soil and they would be eating it, along with grit naturally found in the soil.

I had a broody hen hatch one egg a few years back, and on the second day, that chick was being fed tiny bits of tortilla his mama was tearing up for him. He not only survived being fed tortillas at two days of age, but went on to grow up to be a very fine, gorgeous Buff Brahma rooster.

The only danger of feeding your chicks treats is to over-do it so they aren't getting as much of their nutritionally balanced chick starter as they should be eating for proper growth and health.

Soft food like boiled egg yolk, yogurt, etc, require no grit, as well as chick starter. But when you begin introducing an occasional lettuce leaf, live meal worms, grapes, etc, offer some grit in the form of sand if you happen to have some, or a bit of dirt from outside.

Hey Azygous,
Why do you say "4 obnoxious Speckled Sussex hens"? What is their temperament that you say that, or are they so affectionate they come to your door, walking in? I have 2 SS female chickies and one rooster ... all 9 days old. So, I'm curious.

 

[azygous]

My four SS are exceptional characters, each with a completely different personality. Linda is renowned for going broody around three times each season, and she's currently going broody right now, a dozen times in her four years. Sylvia has perfected a reasonable imitation of a rooster crow which she practices faithfully almost every morning. Judy is docile and lap friendly with people but brooks no encroachment of her domain by younger flock members. And Geobett is practically mute, but I know she's right behind me ready to inspect everything I am doing.

They are all as loveable and lap friendly as you could ever want pet hens to be.

But they are brutally domineering toward the rest of the flock and I've had to give them their own coop and run, although they get along with the flock as long as everyone is free-ranging.