Can I give my week old babies a tray of dirt to scratch around in?

[akanalynnn]

If I make sure there are no critters or greens in some dirt, can I give my babies (a gold laced polish and a BR :->) a tray of dirt to scratch around in? The BR keeps doing this stretching and insane scratching around dance.... I don't think the paper towels are tickling her fancy.

Thanks

I can't believe how much 2 little babies eat and drink! Sheesh!

These are my first babies

 

[McGoo]

I say yes. I even think that you can take them outside if the temps are high enough. That's what momma would do... right?

I bring my little ones into a little pen and I stay and watch over them. They start out all hyper and after about 1/2 hour they are really mellow

Then I bring them back into their indoor pen and they sleep for a bit.

 

[MaineChickens]

I started bringing in a bit of sandy dirt from my driveway at a week old. They LOVED it. Today I pulled up a clump of weeds, dirt and all, and threw that in for them to check out. The carnage from that is strewn about the brooder with reckless abandon! Dead dandilions everywhere...

 

[MissPrissy]

They can have some grass and dirt. It helps to build their immune system to be exposed to the earth.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Yes you can.

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Is it okay if they eat the dirt? I thought they would just scratch around and peck at it. Had no idea they would devour the whole darn thing in seconds.

 

[ozark hen]

I took a sharp knife out and cut them some turf before they were a week old and they played in it. NO problem.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

How about play sand? Can I mix that with some dirt and let them have at it? Mine are a week old on Monday.

thanks!

 

[SterlingAcres]

I've always given our chicks in the brooder clumps of sod, larger rocks, sticks, acorns, flowers and even sand to play around with. They'd be doing it outside anyway.

Good luck.