Chick Treats!

[wesley m]

What is a good list of treats my chicks will love? I have heard of: meal worms (alive or dead?), plain yogurt(GREEK yogurt with more protein or normal , yogurt?), fruits and veggies (which ones?), & earth worms. What else? How old should they be when I introduce treats? Would regular bird seed be good or bad for them? Should I change the treats when theyre older? C'mon people, give me the run down!!

 

[JanO]

How old are your chicks? Until mine are old enough to be out of the brooder I don't give them anything other than starter, but when they are let out and free ranging I will throw them a few treats like I do the rest of the flock. Cooked rice, veggies, fruits, tuna, dry cat food are just some of the things I'll give them. Not every day, but from time to time and they seem to enjoy it.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

This is a good resource:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

If your chicks are still in the brooder and you want to start giving them treats they will need to be provided grit. If not, wait until they are outside.

Mealworms can be alive or dead. Yogurt you want only plain, unsweetened, natural yogurt. Not the sugar added flavored kinds. Most fruits and veggies are fine but see the chart in the link.

People will give chickens other stuff like bread and pasta but keep in mind that stuff like that really is not high in nutritional value and if they are eating that they are not feeding their feed. Young birds really should be eating almost all of their daily intake of food as starter feed as that is the correct nutrition for them.

 

[wesley m]

Thanks for the quick responses. They helped a lot!