Feeding babies

[NWHeather]

I've been looking into other foods you can give chickens, and was wondering how early you can start introducing other foods to babies? (Mealworms, acceptable veggies, etc).
Pic of one of my adorable chicks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If raised with a mother hen, she may introduce them to other things in the foraging area early on but just keep in mind that chick starter is formulated with all the nutrients then need in the precise proportions. They don't eat a lot so every bite of other 'foods' can unbalance that nutrition.
If I'm brooding chicks, I never feed anything but chick starter till they are outside foraging on their own.
If and when you give something else, make sure they have the appropriate sized grit for their age.
Most people don't provide grit if only feeding starter but I give grit to chicks from day one. It helps develop their gizzard.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Make sure they have their chick starter food, and plenty of water, but depending on the size of your brooder, you can add a small box of dirt, put the little grit in the box with the dirt. You can give them meal worms, add a chunk of lawn or grass. Think of what they would encounter out with Mama hen. She would have them outside from day two or three!

 

[NWHeather]

Thank you for the replies!
I have them on the starter food, I just wondered at what point would be the best to introduce other stuff, so they start to recognize it as food.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[NWHeather]

It's kind of like socializing puppies, isn't it? Giving them chunks of grass and such. LOL

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thank you for the replies!
I have them on the starter food, I just wondered at what point would be the best to introduce other stuff, so they start to recognize it as food.

Thanks for the ideas!

They will learn to recognize food at any age. One bird will try something and then the rest will all eat it - eventually.
There are few situations where chickens NEED different foods other than age appropriate feed. But free ranging on good forage is a good thing and use of table scraps is a good thing.

 

[NWHeather]

They will learn to recognize food at any age. One bird will try something and then the rest will all eat it - eventually.
There are few situations where chickens NEED different foods other than age appropriate feed. But free ranging on good forage is a good thing and use of table scraps is a good thing.

I've noticed how they're "monkey see, monkey do". LOL
One checks something out, then they all have to check it out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've noticed how they're "monkey see, monkey do". LOL
One checks something out, then they all have to check it out.

That's how they eventually learn to use nipple waterers.

 

[NWHeather]

That's how they eventually learn to use nipple waterers.

I've been contemplating switching to those. I am forever cleaning the water reservoirs.