Entertainment and treats for week old chicks.

[redinator]

My 5 little ones just turned a week old. My initial plan when hatching was to bring them outside periodically until they're fully feather and can be out permanently. Unfortunately the weather is cooperating, it's been wet, cold and damp since they hatched. I fell bad for them being cooped up in the brooder and plan to set up a space for them to roam a bit and stretch their wings during the day in the house. I have this

and plan to put towels and such under it to catch poop and food spillage. My biggest question is; when is it safe to feed them treats and snacks and what's safe in the early stages. I see on the chick grit they're not supposed to have it until they're two weeks old, so I'm thinking that's safe guideline. Any suggestions on toys would be great too. Thanks!

 

[Noraaaaa]

My 5 little ones just turned a week old. My initial plan when hatching was to bring them outside periodically until they're fully feather and can be out permanently. Unfortunately the weather is cooperating, it's been wet, cold and damp since they hatched. I fell bad for them being cooped up in the brooder and plan to set up a space for them to roam a bit and stretch their wings during the day in the house. I have thisView attachment 4052946

that looks great!

and plan to put towels and such under it to catch poop and food spillage.

good idea!

My biggest question is; when is it safe to feed them treats and snacks and what's safe in the early stages.

i usually throw their normal food on the ground. i give them mash and eggs sometimes.

I see on the chick grit they're not supposed to have it until they're two weeks old, so I'm thinking that's safe guideline. Any suggestions on toys would be great too.

i have put some things to hop on (branches and roosts) and they also get to go outside (like in cage in grass) sometimes as well!

Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

No treats until 3 weeks, and then they'll need grit. However they don't need treats at all whole they're growing rapidly. For now, wet and warm their feed so it's like a oatmeal and they'll go nuts

 

[redinator]

that looks great!

good idea!

i usually throw their normal food on the ground. i give them mash and eggs sometimes.

i have put some things to hop on (branches and roosts) and they also get to go outside (like in cage in grass) sometimes as well!

What's a safe temperature to start bringing them outside? Lately is been in the 60's during the day, but damp and overcast so there's no warm/sunny place to set them up. I thought about setting up the brooder plate but with the ground being wet I'm not sure it's a good idea plus their down would get drenched in the wet grass.

 

[rosemarythyme]

60s is fine. I don't even worry about it being damp as I brood outdoors so they're running around on the wet ground anyhow, but they should have places that aren't wet to use so they can dry off properly and stay warm. If the area is mostly grass maybe set down a sheet of plywood or a layer of dry bedding and put the brooder plate on top of that?

As far as grit, if a mama hen was raising them they'd pick up bits of rocks to serve as grit as soon as they were out and about. I figure mama knows best, so no need to wait 2 weeks, especially if you're going to have them on grass or bedding that they may be ingesting.

For "snacks" at that age I'd maybe crumble up 1 dried mealworm each (once they've had grit), more to train them to getting used to my hand than anything else. Or wet starter feed is something you can offer freely, as it's just their regular feed in a different form.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

In the house we don't use bedding like wood chips or anything like that, it's a hassle and just too messy and dusty. We use puppy pee pads and just change them every night about bed time. What we do is remove the chicks from the brooder and put them in a box (under dim lights so they're sleepy and calm!), then change everything in the brooder - clean and change the waterer(s), refill the feeder(s), remove and replace the puppy pads. Then, before returning the chicks to their nice clean brooder, we check for pasty butt and clean any that need it, then turn off the lights. Done!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh and as for snacks: at one week I add a little dish of grit. Three days later I sprinkle a few mealworms around on the floor of the brooder as I call, Here chickies! I am training them to come when called, as I will call them the rest of their lives. That's the only reason for treats, in my mind. To gather the flock so I can look them over.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

In the house we don't use bedding like wood chips or anything like that, it's a hassle and just too messy and dusty. We use puppy pee pads and just change them every night about bed time. What we do is remove the chicks from the brooder and put them in a box (under dim lights so they're sleepy and calm!), then change everything in the brooder - clean and change the waterer(s), refill the feeder(s), remove and replace the puppy pads. Then, before returning the chicks to their nice clean brooder, we check for pasty butt and clean any that need it, then turn off the lights. Done!

What a good idea. I'm checking in to this puppy pee pad angle! Thx

 

[redinator]

60s is fine. I don't even worry about it being damp as I brood outdoors so they're running around on the wet ground anyhow, but they should have places that aren't wet to use so they can dry off properly and stay warm. If the area is mostly grass maybe set down a sheet of plywood or a layer of dry bedding and put the brooder plate on top of that?

As far as grit, if a mama hen was raising them they'd pick up bits of rocks to serve as grit as soon as they were out and about. I figure mama knows best, so no need to wait 2 weeks, especially if you're going to have them on grass or bedding that they may be ingesting.

For "snacks" at that age I'd maybe crumble up 1 dried mealworm each (once they've had grit), more to train them to getting used to my hand than anything else. Or wet starter feed is something you can offer freely, as it's just their regular feed in a different form.

I was thinking about putting down pine shaving in the "play area" I have for them. I was worried that would just soak up the water. The plywood is a good idea I have some left over from our kitchen remodel (untreated btw). I set up their "play area" at the foot of my bed for tonight, but they aren't using the brooder plate just huddling together at the other end of the pen. Should I put them under it so they know what it's for? I did spread some of there feed around it and they explored near it, but didn't go under it.

As for the bedding I was using a couple of washable pee pads, but I gave up on that pretty quick, now I use brooder pads. I lay down several layers in the morning and remove them as they get yucky. The bedding is also one of the reasons I wanted to give them more space so the poop isn't all concentrated in the same small space.

I already have a lover in the bunch. She's (I'm assuming they're all female until I find out otherwise) always first to the door, happily eats from my hand even roosts on it a bit. She was also absolutely calm when I let my dog have a good sniff. Mealworms just might be the ticket to win over the rest and good point about the grit.

 

[redinator]

What a good idea. I'm checking in to this puppy pee pad angle! Thx

Go for disposable, they poop way too much for the washable ones. I figured that out after day two, lol. I also find cardboard to be really helpful. I cut it in a few sections and when I go to clean I can remove and replace small sections without having to relocate the chicks.