First things first!!
Pammysue!! You're about to embark on a life long love of chickens, and we're here to help you start out on that journey that is chicken ownership!! So, welcome! Welcome! Welcome!!!
Eight weeks of age should be plenty old enough for treats provided that you supply then with some kind of grit to help them grind up these treats. And be sure that you keep the amount offered at the "treat" level through the next 12-16 weeks. Chicks should be kept on a high quality starter feed for their first six months at least. But treats are certainly permissible and, depending on what it is, highly encouraged.
You might want to cook them up a bit of scrambled eggs for added protein in their diet. Veggies and greens are good, and since your babies are at the 8 week stage, pasting up shouldn't be too much of a problem. Certainly not as much as it would be at 2 weeks or less.
I like to give mine some cooked oatmeal with mixed veggies stirred in. My big girls love it too! WORMS!!! OMGosh! They LOVE worms!!! Just dig around in your garden a bit and find some of those nice little ones. Be prepared to laugh yourself silly at their antics when eating worms!
And if you have a video camera, be sure to have it rolling before you present them with worms!
It's a total hoot!!
Just so you know, inquiring minds always want to know what's in your flock, how many, where you live.......And PICTURES!! We LOVE to see pictures of chickens. (Other fowl too!
) We'd love to see pictures of your babies too!! If you're not sure how to post pictures, you can find great tutorials on the procedure in the FAQ's section, located at the very top of the index page.
Again, Welcome to BYC! We're glad you came, and hope you'll stay!