Feeding month-old chicks

[beergnome]

Hi,

What can I give my month old chicks? They are EE's and are getting pretty feathered-out so I put them out in the coop and let them out in the yard for a few hours a day (the coop is really big for just the three of them). I am giving them chick start rations and grit and have given them bugs and mealworms. And some hard-boiled egg and plain yogurt, though they didn't go for those much. They also seem to like eating the winter ryegrass in the yard. It's getting pretty warm here (highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s) and I read that you shouldn't give them scratch if it's hot. Can they have veggie scraps and such now? Is it bad that they eat the rye?

Thanks!

 

[HEChicken]

You could offer them vegie scraps now - just make sure they always have grit available. I have some around the same age and I offer them just about anything. They seem to know what is good to eat and what isn't - if it isn't something they can eat, they just ignore it.

 

[BeccaOH]

Sounds like you are doing well with them. Spoiling them almost.

I haven't had issues giving scratch during the heat of summer. Just a few handfuls out on the dirt gives them something to scratch around for. They may still be too young for big grains like whole oats or sunflower seeds.

They can peck at fresh veggie scraps now, but if they don't eat it in a day, take it away before it spoils.

 

[beergnome]

Thanks, y'all!

The plan is to spoil them. My only worry is I'm not spoiling them fast enough!

I'll get em a little scratch and we have tons of veggies scraps. I've read what to give and not give, just wasn't sure when they were old enough.

 

[fiberart57]

Watch out that they don't eat too much long blades of grass. Long grass can be a cause of crop binding. Make sure that they have access to lots of grit.

Mary

 

[beergnome]

Thanks, Mary. Actually, they do tend to eat a bunch of long blades of grass. I need to mow, but the the mower is broken right now. The blades seem to pass right through them and come out as a long poop. I was concerned about this, but wasn't sure if it was a potential problem. I have them on starter pellets and I mix some grit in with it, but they also get a few hours each day free-range and they peck at the dirt so I didn't know if the grit was necessary.

Jeff

 

[MotherJean]

As long as they can get grit either by free ranging or out of a dish of chick grit, you can start giving them veggies, fruit, and your table scraps. For example: For their evening meal, I gave my 6 week old girls 1 cup of chick crumbles soaked in warm water to make a mush and added about 1 cup of leftover beef stroganoff. Yesterday, they got breakfast leftovers - hash browns and cheese omelet. I do the table scraps one serving a day. The rest of the time they get their chick crumbles, chickweed and other greens from the yard and garden, chopped veggies, and fruit (when I can get it for free). Check with the produce manager at your local grocery store, BTW, to see if you can get some of the vegetable trimmings, fruits and veg that are past their prime and being discarded. I get all my girls can use at my local Safeway store. Free chicken food is a good thing.