Feeding your young chicks-what not to do & what to watch out for.

[NewChickHere]

Thank you so much Imp for that list. I bookmarked it for future use. One thing that I might be a bit concerned about it the place we are building our coop and the huge run is in our field. Well, last year the field had a whole crop of soybeans and they just got harvested about a month ago, hence why the turkeys are so prevalent right now. I think you saw my coop/turkeys in the field pic right? Well there are numerous soybeans EVERYWHERE out there and I see on the list that chickens can not have any dried beans. Is this true completely or just in moderation etc? Thank you again.

 

[galanie]

I have seen people say on here that their chickens did eat a dried beans with no ill effects. But each time, it was a moderate amount. I'd not feed them the soybeans but if they get a few while ranging, I'm betting it won't hurt them. Many seem to just not eat that which is bad for them as well. So it could be that they just won't eat them.

 

[NewChickHere]

Thank you Galanie. I sure hope so because the turkeys sure love them. Maybe by the time they are old enough to go outside the turkeys will have eaten most all of them. Plus, we are going to till the land up some also. Does anyone think I should sprinkle any kind of dust stuff or DE (I dont know what that is but I've been seeing posts about it.

) on the area that will be the run? To maybe help kill some wild turkey cooties or something? haha.

Thanks! Kim

 

[galanie]

DE is good for drying out coop floor and helping to kill mites and those kind of crawlies. Studies prove it doesn't kill cooties.

Kidding aside, I wouldn't worry much about it. If the turkeys were healthy then they likely wouldn't give any bad cooties to the chickens.

 

[NewChickHere]

Ok great. Would the DE be something that I should start my coop off right away with it? Like a bit in the nest boxes etc? I am going to stop worrying so much, just like a new mom. haha. Tomorrow morning is chick time! Can't wait. 27 little furballs.

Kim

 

[Bator Babies]

is it ok to feed dried beans if you soak them over night and cook them? what about split peas?

 

[bj taylor]

new chick here; congratulations on new babies coming. hope it's a grand adventure. it has been for me. they're just adorable (speaking from the ripe old age of one week).

 

[Eggcitedpeeper]

Thanks for sharing this, Imp. I didn't know this... And I've had chickens for years!! Guess you learn something new everyday...

 

[Imp]

is it ok to feed dried beans if you soak them over night and cook them? what about split peas?

Yes, heat destroys the toxin.
Different types of beans vary including split peas.

Imp

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/poultry/bba01s21.html

Here is a nice link on peas. I am a big fan of peas, LOL!

I feed them raw...have read that while they do have some antinutrients it is not as bad as the beans like kidney beans, etc.

They don't get that much in my recipe anyway...see my BYC page if interested.

To the OP- I am sorry that you had to go through that and thank you for posting the information! I am sorry for your losses.