chicks eating grasshoppers, OK?

[chickenfever]

My DH thought it would be great fun to throw 3 giant grasshoppers into the chick brooder.

Of course they devoured them. Was this OK? They are 3 wks old and don't get any grit, just chick starter.

 

[Wildsky]

My babies get introduced at less than a week - they're out with mom hen - and she catches bugs for them! Build an outside brooder/enclosure - so the babies can dig around in the dirt and such themselves.

 

[chickenfever]

Will they be OK in the meantime?

 

[crtrlovr]

they should be ok, but I would get some grit (even the parakeet/canary kind from the pet section of walmart or such) and "salt" their treat type food that may need some help getting ground up. Their chick starter won't need grit, but it helps when they start adding new things to their diet.

 

[Melilem]

mmm grasshoppers! the chicks should be fine, although without the grit they may not get the full nutritional value of the grasshoppers... I have never had a chicken become cropbound from bugs.

 

[pkeeler]

Your chickens will be healthier in the long run if you feed grit. Whether you are feeding commercial ration only or not. Look for parakeet grit without oyster shell.