Giving meat birds grass/bugs in brooder

CDennis

Songster
10 Years
Apr 1, 2009
636
3
151
Idaho
I know w/ my regular flock I didn't introduce bugs/grass until they were outside free ranging, but I was curious if anyone has given bugs/grass to their meat birds at an early age? They are very lively and have already eaten on their own several bugs who wandered into their brood box. I thought grass might be a good thing to add, but I don't want to kill off my meat supply either.
 
Yes , at around two weeks or less I started feeding night crawlers , bugs , meat scraps , grass , wild bird feed , in their bedding and added some parakeet grit in a tuna fish can . The CX were on unlimited feed at that time but were being trained for the plan of limiting trough feeding later to slow growth and maintain them for breeding . They still are not great foragers at 6 months and will not leave a feeder as long as there is a speck of feed , but they will look for more natural foods when they're hungry enough . They are now allowed to fill their crops once daily ; 90% of their ration is gone in 15 minutes , probably another 15 spent cleaning up every last speck , then they must turn to grass cuttings , hay , scraps , or find something live if they want more .
 
I planted oat grass in my meatie run. They are only just over 2wks old now, so still living in their "brooder pool", but I pinch up a bunch of grass and give it to them. They also chase any bugs that get into the pool. I will start to give them some scratch grains this coming Wednesday (3wks of age).
Be sure you have some chick grit available.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom