Funny introduction to mealworms?

[Dominicker Esquire]

I introduced mealworms to my 2 week old chicks today and it was quite strange and highly entertaining! I have 30 chicks so put a nice amount of worms on a cottage cheese lid. I placed them under the heat lamps to warm them up and get them moving. The chicks held back for a minute and looked at them? Then one brave chick walked up and tentatively pecked at them while the other cowards stayed back and watched? Then when the brave chick got one in his beak he took off running and about half the chicks started chasing him around the brooder with the worm hanging in her beak?? They were trying to steal it from her? They ran back and forth chasing!! Then a couple more chicks figured them out and started pecking at them and picked up worms and started running and more started chasing trying to steal them!! So it was on!!! Total chaos! Until all the worms were eaten?? Is this normal behavior? I couldn’t stop laughing!!
Now they barely scatter when I open the lid on the brooder because think they are looking for me to give them worms??

 

[azygous]

I call it "meal worm keep-away". It's in their DNA to see something novel and take off running with it, the others racing after the chick. Did you notice how the leader will suddenly change direction, and all the chicks then start running the opposite way?

Yes, it's about the most fun you can have with chicks. Chick pandemonium!

 

[Dominicker Esquire]

Yes it reminded me of the velociraptors in Jurassic park when they ran in synchronized patterns! They seemed to move as a unit? Can’t wait to feed them worms tomorrow! They grit so it should be fine right?

 

[azygous]

Grit and plenty of water. Meal worms can cause constipation in small chicks so go easy on them.

 

[Dominicker Esquire]

Grit and plenty of water. Meal worms can cause constipation in small chicks so go easy on them.

Thanks they always have plenty of fresh water that I change daily.