Feeding Cream of Wheat (Farina) To Chicks

[Garden Daddy]

Has anyone every used any dry Cream of Wheat to feed chicks? I have a source to get some as a supplement to my regular chick grower/starter and the dry oatmeal I am giving as a treat along with some fresh greens but read a little about giving this also. Any advice would be appreciated. My chicks are 2-weeks old down to 6-days old today. Thanks in advance.

 

[optic1]

You just have to watch how much water gets absorbed by food like that. We put out generic instant potatoes to control mice without chemicals. The mice eat the potatoes then run to get water and the potatoes keep absorbing all the water the mice drink and it ruptures their stomachs, then they die without us worrying about our dogs or cats getting ahold of a poisoned mouse.

 

[Garden Daddy]

Thanks, "optic1"...that makes good sense as it takes a liquid to make that into a usable, edible product. Probably not a good idea and think I will let that one go. I just had a source to get that product basically free and was trying to think of ways to recycle something into useful and not have it go to the refuse heap, that could result in better chicks down the road. Good, sound advice and I will not use that now that I have really thought it through with your help.

 

[digitS']

You could also be taking a little bit of a risk with so much supplementing at that young age. Many poultry specialists say nothing other than starter for most of their growing up period.

Chicks get a very high protein feed and it is balanced protein, about 20%.

As they approach maturity, the recommendation is for a lower protein diet, down to about 16% for dual-purpose and laying breeds. Nutrition for Backyard Chicken Flocks That is a good time for treats to be given with some frequency, especially if you keep the birds on a fairly high protein feed. The birds also began to show more interest in different foods after they are a couple months old.

Breakfast cereals are between 7% and 11% protein and not all of it is usable by the chicks.

Steve

 

[Garden Daddy]

Thanks, digitS', for the advice. Yes, I have already decided it would not be a good idea. I have only given them really some dry oatmeal and they are loving it, about 1/2-cup a day for all 16 chicks along with their chick starter crumbles and grit and of course fresh water every day.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

It's just polished, coarsely milled wheat. It's not goiing to hurt them any.

If it were me I'd stick with the rolled oats for chick scratch as the pieces are big enough for them to find easily.

I don't feed treats in my brooder. They get starter free-choice. Every other day I'll sprinkle a hand full of rolled oats over their bedding to encourage them to keep it turned up and fluffy. At one week they start getting finely chopped green feed but only as much as they can clean up in fifteen minutes once a day.

.....Alan.

 

[Garden Daddy]

Thanks, Alan, for your advice as well. I have and am only giving them the chick starter crumbles and a few rolled oats daily. Sometimes I will throw in a little leaf lettuce but only enough like you they will finish off in a few minutes. The oldest bunch is almost 3-weeks and the youngest 3 are about 10-days old.

Mike

 

[Rettarain2]

Has anyone every used any dry Cream of Wheat to feed chicks?  I have a source to get some as a supplement to my regular chick grower/starter and the dry oatmeal I am giving as a treat along with some fresh greens but read a little about giving this also.  Any advice would be appreciated.  My chicks are 2-weeks old down to 6-days old today.  Thanks in advance.

 

[Rettarain2]

I just fed mine some cooked....well diluted.. Oh geesh.. Anyone know. .did I harm them???

 

[Rettarain2]

You just have to watch how much water gets absorbed by food like that. We put out generic instant potatoes to control mice without chemicals. The mice eat the potatoes then run to get water and the potatoes keep absorbing all the water the mice drink and it ruptures their stomachs, then they die without us worrying about our dogs or cats getting ahold of a poisoned mouse.