Can baby chicks eat bugs?

[lazy gardener]

Hello, Everyone! I've gotten a big kick out of reading everyone's two cents on feeding bugs to chicks.

I have a question. I read a post where someone suggested adding a clump of grass with the dirt and all to the brooder to "inoculate" them from the outdoors. My chicks are two weeks old. At first, they were scared of it but now they go nuts over it. The rip and roar if they get some little something that another chick doesn't have. Does anyone know if they are getting grit out of the dirt? Tractor Supply has been out of chick grit for a while and I haven't given it to them yet, so I was wondering if they are getting grit out of the dirt which they seem to enjoy pecking at.

If anyone knows the answer to this, that would be great! They are growing fast and I want to give them mealworms but not until they've had some grit.

Happy Chickening,

Do you see any grit? Grit is simply little stones. You would be looking for stones about this size: o, perhaps to this size: O. If none in your soil, can you scoop some up in your driveway? And, if there's not any grit in your soil, they definitely need grit if they are eating the grass in your sod!

 

[ZeeAviatrix]

Do you see any grit? Grit is simply little stones. You would be looking for stones about this size: o, perhaps to this size: O. If none in your soil, can you scoop some up in your driveway? And, if there's not any grit in your soil, they definitely need grit if they are eating the grass in your sod!

Thank you for your reply! I don't see a whole lot of stones in it but I was reading how important grit is to the health of the chicken on another thread. If they have a healthy gizzard they will put weight on more quickly and be healthier. Crushed granite is supposed to be the best. I guess I'll wait until I can purchase a small bag from TSC before I feed them any bugs. I think I read where they don't need grit to digest greens but definitely need it for bugs and mealworms.

 

[ZeeAviatrix]

Too, the thread "The Science of Feeding Grit to Poultry" is fascinating! The person who posted the information did a lot of research and it appears to be especially important for egg-layers to have a healthy gizzard. You have to read it, it's fantastic!

 

[nickglo]

I used Crushed Granite grit for my chicks since the first week, i mixed it into their food about 4:1 ratio the grit being the one. they loved it. they are now 6 weeks old and now big enough to gobble down bugs, its hilarious to watch the chase each other to get the bug. Were in the process of transferring them to the permanent coop, but until then i put a big bowl of dirt from my yard for them to dust bathe in and they occasionally scratch around for little pebbles. But the crushed granite worked really well.

 

[OnnieMae]

The easiest way to get a meal worm farm started is to buy a carton of meal worms, feed a few to the chickens, then put the rest into a shallow plastic tray (drill small air holes in the lid) filled with wheat bran, add a carrot, then put it somewhere warm and dark, and let them morph. In no time you'll have beetles and they'll start laying eggs like crazy, and in a few months, you'll have a whole bunch of new worms.

 

[OnnieMae]

Thank you! I read that you could use oatmeal too. Can I mix the two meals?

 

[3riverschick]

If your chicks are getting anything, anything other than chick feed and water, you need to feed them chick Grit.

 

[OnnieMae]

​Thank you for your reply!  I don't see a whole lot of stones in it but I was reading how important grit is to the health of the chicken on another thread.  If they have a healthy gizzard they will put weight on more quickly and be healthier.  Crushed granite is supposed to be the best.  I guess I'll wait until I can purchase a small bag from TSC before I feed them any bugs.  I think I read where they don't need grit to digest greens but definitely need it for bugs and mealworms.

 

[OnnieMae]

I see my five week old girls finding their own grit. They pick dirt and such from between the grass on the bottom of their coop. I guess it is just instinct.

 

[JennyLeeF]

I just switched my brooder bedding from hay to pine chips and my 1 week old chicks keep digging around and pecking at the chips, almost looks like they are trying to eat it. I was thinking they are just looking for bugs.

Is it too soon to start throwing bugs in there for them to find?

When should I start doing that?

What kind of bugs to start with?

Is there anywhere to buy them??

I gave my chickies bugs their first week. Mealworms and crickets. They love them.

If they were raised by mom outside they'd already have these things available and be eating them.

Be warned, bugs will last all of 1 minute with them. Hahaha

Edit: petsmaet or other pet feed stores have live crickets and memory's. If you have kids have them go out and catch bugs. Fun for all!

For my 11 chicks I gave them 20 small crickets and roughly 2 mealworms per chick.