Fresh Produce for Chicks?

[shivamama]

So how old do my chicks have to be before they can start eating fresh produce, greens and veggies and such. I have some three week olds who seem like they might be ready for something more than their chick feed.

I also read in my new chicken manual that you can nip the habit of eating their eggs in the bud by crushing egg shells into powder and mixing it with their food. The idea is that get used to the taste and its not exciting for them anymore. Its also supposed to make their egg shells harder so that they can't peck them open so easily.

Has anyone tried this? Does it work? If so, how soon should I start feeding it to them?

Thanks for the help!

 

[drumstick diva]

sorry I don't think that would work. Roll away nest boxes are something people try, the idea is the egg rolls away so the hen can't get to . But shed have to be laying in that particular box. Others suggest blowing out the eggs and filling with mustard. While trying to find something that works, you should separate her from the others. Its a bad habit and the others will pick it up from her.

You might want to do a search "Egg Eaters" Wish you luck, my friend has house chickens that do that and she just doesn't care. the hens break the and the dog eats them. Oh well that's her

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, shivamama, and

! Pleased you joined us! I don't think it's about taste - they eat it for the calcium - provide with with free choice crushed oyster shell. I you have egg eaters, the roll away nest box drumstick mention is a great idea. Good luck to you!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I'd think that - providing you give them chick grit - your three week old chicks would enjoy some garden greens. If they were being raised by their mom, they'd be on the ground with access to grit and munching on grass so this would be similar. Just remember to give them grit before any greens and I'd finely mince the greens so that there were no large pieces.

I give my egg-laying girls crushed egg shells for the calcium it provides. It's been stated on BYC and elsewhere that too much calcium before they're of egg-laying age can actually be harmful to chickens so NO on giving them crushed shells at age 3 weeks. My older girls love the shells but have never been egg eaters. When they get to egg-laying age, offer them oyster shell separately and they will take what their body needs and make sure they get enough protein in their diet. Hopefully, that will help prevent any egg eaters in your flock. Good luck!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Feeding eggs is unlikely to prevent egg eating - most birds start when they find a broken egg and enjoy it, and then upgrade to breaking them and eating them, or they see another hen doing it and copy them. Ground eggs should not be fed to chicks, as that is way too much calcium for young birds.

Chicks have an immature digestive tract until they are a little older, around 6 weeks or so. While small amounts of treats may not hurt them, feeding them too much will decrease how much of their balanced chick feed they eat, and unbalance their diet. This is especially a problem if you are using feed to prevent coccidia, as they will not eat enough of the preventive if they eat less of their chick feed.