Field trip outside and grit

[deegee68]

Hello,

I have 3 chicks, two coming up to 3 weeks old and one coming up to 2 weeks old. The weather has been quite warm lately so I have let them roam around outside the last couple of days for 30 minute periods. They are currently eating their starter food. My question is, they are pecking away and eating things on the ground, one even got a hold of a worm or bug of some sort, and I think another got a strawberry. My questions is, should I give them a little grit for their outside adventure, or will they get enough of that type of stuff when they were foraging around outside?

Thanks!

 

[tsmith91]

I would provide some grit for them to use as they need make sure its for chicks if you get the large grit you can use a hammer and break it up into smaller pieces

 

[azygous]

If you want to be on the safe side, provide chick grit. But chances are good they're picking up what they need from the soil. I can't picture any soil that would be lacking in a wide ranch of particle sizes for chickens of all ages.

I've never bought grit for my flock. The chicks pick up grit from the sand in the run, as well as the adult chickens. They also consume grit when they're outside ranging in search of weeds and grass and insects.

It's a craving that chicks get, and they'll satisfy that craving when they're on soil.

 

[hannahchicken]

I do the same little "field trips".
I have always tried to be on the safe side so offer some chick grit after outside trips. If they need it, they'll take it, if not, they won't. They are fairly instinctual. What I have done because I have mixed ages in my brooder: the "big girls" like to take dust baths so I put some soft and dry dirt (no fertilizer PLEASE) in a shallow enough container and sprinkle the grit in there. That way they can peck it out and won't eat too much of it.

 

[KayTee]

I provide a small container of sand for my chicks when they first start going outside. They pick at it when they want to. Once they are out full-time they ignore the sand box, so I know they're getting everything they need from the soil.

 

[deegee68]

Thanks for all the answers. They really enjoy their time outside!

 

[Mims]

Can I let them have a field trip at 1 week old? It's in the 80's and 90's outside here.

 

[KayTee]

At one week they will be fine for a 'field trip'. If they were with their mum they would be outside at 48 hours old!

The essential thing is to make certain that there is somewhere shady in their run, in case they get too hot. You need to keep an eye on them regularly, to make certain that they are ok.

One other thing - once you start giving chicks access to the soil you need to be aware of coccidiosis. It is present in every soil, and over time chickens develop a natural resistance to their native strains, but when you first introduce them to an environment it can disrupt the gastrointestinal system leading to diarrhoea, bloody stools and if untreated can be fatal. One you start giving them access to outside keep an eye on their poops for a few weeks. If you see any type of diarrhoea or foamy poops then treat with corid or sulfadimethoxine immediately. Some people even treat preventatively with corid from day 1 of outside access.

 

[prostar]

Other concern: if they're outside on field trips be out there with them. I lost one of my five week pullets to a hawk when hubs let them out and came back inside...

Shrubbery isn't a guarantee of safety.

 

[deegee68]

Thanks for the tips. I have been watching them not stop while they are outside and they just seem to be pecking around. The did manage to find a worm and some sort of catepillar thing. The time out has been short, like 30 minutes or so.