chicks eating dirt.....lots of dirt

[daisy_dukers]

So I put a pan of dirt/grit in with chicks yesterday and they went absolutely nuts over it....You woulda thought I was feeding them caviar the way they were eating it...


I ended up taking it away after about 5 mintues as they just didnt stop eating/pecking at it...

Is this normal behaviour?

I have a tonne of swiss chard, lettus etc. that I would like to give them but I worry they didnt have any grit...

Should I put the pan back?

 

[columbiacritter]

How old are they?
You shouldn't be giving treats without grit so hold off onthe snacks until they are eating grit regularly.

 

[vegaburm]

Mine went nuts the first time i gave them sand. Ate it like crazy. I gave it to them because they were pecking the unvarnished tiles I had set their water thingie on until they broke off pieces to eat. gave them the sand and man, they went crazy over it. So, sounds normal to me. They didn't get nearly so excited over it other times I offered it, just that first time really.

 

[daisy_dukers]

My chicks are 16 days old. They are going to go outside in anouther week or two as they are feathering out really fast, and seem to be rather healthy and happy....

I just wanted them to get some grit into them before they went outside and before I gave them any treats to eat. I have tossed a swiss chard stem in for a few minutes just to watch them play tag, but took it away once they figured out it was tasty.

No deaths, no pasty butt, no nothing....so I think I am doing this right..

 

[annek]

I used to hide things in the sand/dirt for them to eat. Chop up your stuff like broccoli, greens, strawberries etc. fine with a food processor then mix it in the dirt for them. They will have a field day digging in it and it will help with the grit too.