Dried alfalfa at 6 weeks?

[Birdpants]

Folks, is it okay to throw in some dried alfalfa for my six-week-old pullets? I want to give them something fun to scratch around for, since all they have now is dirt, pine shavings and crumble, and I’m reading they’re still a little young for scratch. No bugs or grass in the dirt either.

I’m also not sure when to start giving them grit...

just want to “treat” them safely, do whatever I can to make them happy.

 

[Percheron chick]

By 6 weeks they should be outside and can enjoy bugs, weeds, alfalfa... Give them grit now. I will just give mine dirt and they can get enough large sand and small rocks to satisfy their grit needs.

 

[annagoodspeed]

Hen raised chicks are eating free choice everything right off the bat. I have never seen a poopy butt or any health problems, for that matter, on a hen raised chick.

 

[kerbotx]

Are we talking about alfalfa hay bits? That's basically like grass, so they would need grit now, even mixed in with it a little bit. (They don't need grit as long as they only eat their feed - it becomes more important as you introduce other foods.) Other safe treats would be boiled egg, or some small pieces of fruit/veggies, with a little grit sprinkled on top. You can give them a bowl of chick grit, but watch them at first - sometimes they think it's food, too, and will eat too much! I usually just mix a little grit in with their chick starter. You could also try a wet mash with their feed, no grit needed, but mine usually think it's something special!