First treats

[top of the hill]

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x2

there is a whole food chart on here somewhere... ah here it is.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

This chart was super helpful to me.

So far my girls have had and loved, raisens, sunflower seeds, tomato (not the plant just the fruit), watermelon (good cold on a hot day) regular melon, peanuts, clover from the yard, squash and cucumber (cut in half to expose seeds, corn on the cobb, blueberries, rasberries. I am looking forward to the start of pumpkin season and plan to cut one in half and toss it into the coop. but yes, this is a "treat" so be sure they get their regular feed as well.

They only need grit if they do not have access to the outdoors. our run is filled with little pebbles and sand and we have never had an issue (she says as she knocks on wood!!)

 

[top of the hill]

Quote:
I just noticed this was directed toward chicks... I am fairly certain that if all you are feeding them is commercial chick starter you do not need to give grit. we did not and the chicks are fine. started giving them treats around 8 weeks but by then they had access to the outdoors.

If you are giving them treats and if they are still in brooder box, I might put a bowl on the side or mix with the starter/grower.

hope that helps!

 

[NickyPick]

I started my chicks on treats when they were 1 week old. I gave them boiled egg yolks, which I mashed up into a powder. I figured it was kinda like priming the pump. They learned early on that "chick chick chick TREAT!" meant something good, and to come to me when I had treats. They're now 6+ months old and still charge when I call.