Getting chicks to eat grit.

[Ravenna]

My 3 week old silkies are afraid of their grit bowl. And yogurt bowl.

I was wondering what is the easiest way to get them to eat it? Is it a good idea to mix it in with their feed?

And by nature, are silkie chicks skittish? ;o I have worked very hard with taming them and the whole treat gig.

They act like they are getting murdered when I layer their shavings or try to told hold them.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Nemo]

We start them out with grit by sprinkling it on their food. Sort of like salting it; just a little.

I don't know about Silkies specific'ly, but our three-ish week old Buff Orps are pretty skittish, too.

 

[debakadeb]

I don't give mine grit until they are much older...and by that time, they get plenty of dirt so the girt isn't really all the necessary. On the yogurt, if you sprinkle their chick starter food over the top of it, they will probably eat it then. It's just strange to them right now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know how long you have been trying to get them to eat grit or yogurt. Chickens are often nervous around anything new. It often takes them a while to get their nerve up to try something new. Sometimes it takes days for them to go out of their coop and into the run when the pop door is first opened.

I cut one of those small yogurt cups so it was about 1-1/2" high, used wire to hang it on the side of the brooder about back-high, and filled it with sand. None went near it while I was watching but when I came back a few hours later it was empty. I'd had them 3 days so they were 5 days old when I started.

I don't have silkies but mine always go to the far corner of the brooder when I come around. If I stand around after taking care of food and water and don't say anything or make noise, one will eventually get adventurous and check out the food or water. Then another one will hop, skip, flap over. Then the stampede is on. They totally forget me.

All I can advise is patience. Some chicks are more adventurous than others. With mine, the Delaware are the leaders with the Australorps close behind. The Sussex and Orpingtons are slow to come out of the corner.

Good luck!

 

[Ravenna]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It's nice to hear what everyone has tried.

I'm letting them go outside and they are bug-hunting, eating tidbits so I figured grit was a good idea. The only thing that works with the yogurt is when I smear it on the side of the brooder. They literally attack my hand when I do this LOL, so whatever works. They go into a pecking frenzy; it's like little piranhas with fuzz.

I just got tired of a messy brooder, tried bowls, leaving them in and all they did was kick shavings in or decide it was a nice place to flap into. I just wonder if they mellow out when they get older and everything isn't so scary. ;O

How much should I sprinkle in their food for 15? And how often?

 

[cybercat]

If you are feeding chick starter the grit is included. So no reason to feed extra. They are fed starter till 6 to 8 weeks old.

 

[scbatz33]

I don't know about the grit being in the feed already - it's not in either version I feed. If you are just feeding starter, you don't need grit. However, if you are feeding treats you do.

I buy specifically "chick grit", it's ground smaller. Then I mix it in with the feed per the ratio on the grit bag.

As for yogurt, most posts I've seen recommend mixing it with the feed as well.

Chicks all go through "phases" of being scared and brave. My polish are super brave fro the first couple weeks then go crazy for a week or two and then mellow out again at about 2 months. The orps vary as well. I think it's part of their instinct to preserve themselves from predators.

 

[Spunky~Chick~Mom]

Ravenna....

I have 3 week olds also, the are a mixture of 4 breeds. 3 silver spangled hamburgs, 2 white leghorns, 1 buff silkie, 1 blue andalusians (just lost one

).

I have not given them either grit or yogurt yet, but I will have to try that.

Mine are spoiled with crickets....

As for skittish...... my silkie is the most stand-offish one of all.. a few of the others are more jumpy.

Hope that helps a little bit!!!!

 

[cmom]

Whenever I give my chicks anything other than their Starter crumbles I put out a dish of free choice chick grit that I get at my local TSC. They will pick at it when they want it.

 

[hungryhensfarm]

I only give grit to my chickens that are kept off the ground. I'm down to four who are kept in cages and I am working to get them on the ground. My chicks I have right now will go into one of the cages off the ground for a while so I will begin offering them grit between at about six weeks. But that's just me. lol