Chick Questions!!!!!!

[sheri79]

Do you guys really have to give them eggs? I am a newbie and I hear people giving them eggs and chicken, I know chickens are natural cannibals but I just find it weird to give them that stuff...I been giving my baby chicks well not babies no more they are about 6 wks old and I give them cooked oatmeal in the morning and they just love it and when its nice outside I give them worms and such that they scratch themselves....and there starter chicken feed as well..they will eat green grass, dandelions, apples and banana's sometimes but they don't care for the banana's or they don't care for carrots as well....Is there other stuff that I can give them that would help the protein part of it without giving them eggs?

 

[debid]

Do you guys really have to give them eggs? I am a newbie and I hear people giving them eggs and chicken, I know chickens are natural cannibals but I just find it weird to give them that stuff...I been giving my baby chicks well not babies no more they are about 6 wks old and I give them cooked oatmeal in the morning and they  just love it and when its nice outside I give them worms and such that they scratch themselves....and there starter chicken feed as well..they will eat green grass, dandelions, apples and banana's sometimes but they don't care for the banana's or they don't care for carrots as well....Is there other stuff that I can give them that would help the protein part of it without giving them eggs?

You don't HAVE to give them anything but feed and water. If you want to make sure they get enough protein, go easy on the low-protein extras and let them scratch up insects and worms.

 

[rswojo]

Test your bulb setup before you get the chicks to make sure you are you able to provide them with 95 degree temperature. A red bulb works better than a white one because they will pick each other if the light is too bright. If you need grit just get some coarse sand from the driveway.

 

[DuckiesGarden]

Wonderful luck! I got paid early and can make the trip to town TODAY for a new bag of chick starter! Thanks so much for everyones helpful suggestions!
As for the light bulbs, I'm going to pick up a dimmer switch for the brooder bulb I've got for when I can't use the stove. (It was just making it too hot in the brooder that's why I asked about regular bulbs) I'm going to see if dimming it will reduce the heat it's putting out. If not I'll go with the 75w bulbs. I'll be sure to try them out first and see what temp they maintain. Thanks again everyone!