Can I feed my chicks Nuts? eg Pistachios?

[RustyandChipper]

Hi
I have two 4 day old chicks. Rusty and Chipper.
I was wondering if I can feed them nuts like pistachios?
and Do chickens like normal earth worms?

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: They are too young for these foods. Just give them chick feed and water. No grit needed if they are only eating these two things.
Chicks are like other babies. They need some time to grow and mature their digestive system before we start giving them these kinds of treats.
At a week old, if you want too, you can give them sprouted oats. They relish them. You can start sprout them now and by the time they are ready to eat, the chicks will be ready to eat them. What are sprouted oats? Just a delicious, nutritious sprouted grain. Easy and fun to do. Lots of the proper nutrition for the babies. Use a forage oat. Like the hunters plant in plot to lure in deer. Not a feed oat like you would feed your horses. You can get forage oats at any Tractor Supply, Gander Mountain, Cabela's , or any place that's sells hunting or farming equipment. I use Plot Spike Forage Oats. About 20.oo for a 40-50 pound bag. Not genetically modified. Developed at Louisiana State University by line-breeding. Doesn't have anti-mold coating on the seeds. (which can keep them from sprouting).
Here's a wonderful friendly thread at BYC which explains all the hows and whys of sprouting grains for chicken.
Especially pages 24 thru 29. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/425134/anybody-raise-sprouts-to-feed-the-chickens/230
Forage oats have been proclaimed to be the very best all round grain to sprout or poultry. If your chicks are young, chop the sprouted oats into baby-sized pieces. Also give them chick sized grit. You will want to feed your chicks/birds "green feed" sprouted oats. As you will read, these are oats between 4 and 7 days old. Green feed sprouts are good for bringing hens into lay, helping the cocks create more robust sperm so they can sire more robust chicks and great for growing chicks.
From 1 day thru 3 days old, the oat sprout is called "grain feed". Grain feed is fed in addition to the regular ration. At 4 days old the oat sprout goes thru a nutrition change which changes it from a grain feed to a green feed. Sprouts over 7 days old offer no extra nutritional advantage and one runs the risk having the spouts sour/mold in the trays/jars.
Best Regards,
Karen
Waterford English Light Sussex
in western PA, USA