Can I feed my new peeps dried mealworms?

[estamets]

One of my peeps loved live mealworms on day 4 (I had just gotten a shipment to start my mealie farm, and I got excited to try it with them). The others took until day 7 to understand what the fuss was about. Now they go nuts for the mealworms, and they're just now old enough to peck at the grains that the mealworms live in, too. They eat the worms whole. I only feed the worms once a day, about 4-6 worms per bird.

I'm glad to hear that the extra protein may help them feather out faster!

I tried hard boiled egg on day 7, but they weren't interested. I'll try it again in a few days. I may try a few chunks of coconut next time I open a fresh one; I started them on coconut water for hydration when they first arrived, and they loved it! And as soon as they're outside, I'll do frozen grapes and watermelon on hot days - I can't wait to watch them go nuts for it!

Of course, they always have grit.

 

[winteree]

One of my peeps loved live mealworms on day 4 (I had just gotten a shipment to start my mealie farm, and I got excited to try it with them). The others took until day 7 to understand what the fuss was about. Now they go nuts for the mealworms, and they're just now old enough to peck at the grains that the mealworms live in, too. They eat the worms whole. I only feed the worms once a day, about 4-6 worms per bird.

I'm glad to hear that the extra protein may help them feather out faster!

I tried hard boiled egg on day 7, but they weren't interested. I'll try it again in a few days. I may try a few chunks of coconut next time I open a fresh one; I started them on coconut water for hydration when they first arrived, and they loved it! And as soon as they're outside, I'll do frozen grapes and watermelon on hot days - I can't wait to watch them go nuts for it!

Of course, they always have grit.

just remember chicks that young need chick grit when they are eating stuff like that so you won't risk the any issues with their digestion.

 

[3riverschick]

just remember chicks that young need chick grit when they are
eating stuff like that so you won't risk the any issues with their digestion.

Hi winteree,
Ya know this is so important. Managing the grades of chick grit before 8 weeks old. It can make a difference in the chicks development. From what I have read, the very best treat you can give your very young chicks is diced sprouted oats. If you want to do the best for them, By a bag of "forage oats( like the hunters plant in deer plots. Sprout them and feed at 4-7 days old. This is "green feed". From 1 thru 3 days old, the sprouts are "grain feed", fed as part of the daily ration". That's not what you want. On the 4th day, a nutritional change takes place in the sprout and they become "green feed". This is what you want. There is no nutritional advantage in sprouting them longer than 7 days and, if so, one runs the risk of the sprouts going sour , bad. From all my research the very best "treat" for them at this age is properly sized chick grit and diced sprouted oats. Use insoluble granite grit. Gran-I-Grit is one company. What you feed for grit does make a difference.
Best,
Karen

 

[winteree]

I winteree,
Ya know this is so important. Managing the grades of chick grit before 8 weeks old. It can make a difference in the chicks development. From what I have read, the very best treat you can give your very young chicks is diced sprouted oats. If you want to do the best for them, By a bag of "forage oats( like the hunters plant in deer plots. Sprout them and feed at 4-7 days old. This is "green feed". From 1 thru 3 days old, the sprouts are "grain feed", fed as part of the daily ration". That's not what you want. On the 4th day, a nutritional change takes place in the sprout and they become "green feed". This is what you want. There is no nutritional advantage in sprouting them longer than 7 days and, if so, one runs the risk of the sprouts going sour , bad. From all my research the very best "treat" for them at this age is properly sized chick grit and diced sprouted oats. Use insoluble granite grit. Gran-I-Grit is one company. What you feed for grit does make a difference.
Best,
Karen

i've been useing sand for years but to each his own

 

[Wmaddox]

I've never fed mealworms to my birds before, but I have heard that chickens love them. I have found that young chicks LOVE hard boiled eggs. They love it so much, you could lose finger tips over it!

You can feed your new birds dried mealworms, just be sure not to over do it. I personally, would also put a little dish of sand in their brooder as they may need it to help digest the treats.

Mine love scrambled