Good treats for baby chicks?

[Jen2016]

I put a perch in my brooder after 3 days, I just used a half inch dowel because I had it in the scrap wood pile but any natural branck off a tree should work as well, probably better because  the dowel is so slick, a branch with bark would give them more grip.  My peeps are now 12 days old and today I put a chunk of firewood and a medium small branch in their newer larger brooder box along with the perch and they love it.  I have one golden comet that had pasty butt when we got her so she is a little smaller then the rest of the other 5 birds, she has learned that when the others get playing the only place she is safe is on the perch.  I read to get them on the perch as young as possible, it's good for their health and it's easier to start them on it when they are young and will still listen to mom and dad.

 

[Jen2016]

I'm reading and learning as much as I can. ....always something new to learn, I just read that they like their feet flat while they perch so I'm using ladders and bigger perches.

 

[NBwriter]

Our chicks are about 2.5-3 weeks (RI Reds, Silkies, Barred Rock), and though we haven't started treats yet, I'm thinking it might be a good way to encourage them to come to us when we open the brooder/kennel door.

It sounds like hard-boiled eggs are a popular starter food, and grapes. Agreed? I haven't seen anyone here mention cucumbers yet, but our local co-op lets kids walk into the chicken pens and hold out cukes. As a friendly intro, worked like a handshake!

-Nichole

 

[spazy67]

Wow have I learned so much lol my kides at 5 weeks have been wormed, offered oyester shell. Put down yougert, cereal, corn bread, boiled eggs and we're not having it and put off by anything that would dare stick to there beek . Guess what I am saying is I am a little overboard lol this mom a little crazy

 

[elaineinspain]

Note, I don't take our chicks out of the incubator until the third day, they come out hungry and thirsty. I always leave a few older chicks in the indoor brooder (lined with alfalfa hay) to teach the 3 day old chicks. I always have chick starter in a feeder for them. I normally feed two treats a day, and hardboiled eggs is always one of the treats. The other treats are, bread, canned Jack Mackeral, powered milk over their chick starter, whole fish from store (make deep checkered cuts to each side, and watch them pick those bones clean), raw hamburger, veggies & leafy greens, and scratch grains for those 10 days old or older. I have yet to lose a chick this year after day 5, and we hatched about 155 chicks. Our chicks stay in our indoor brooders for 7 days, and then they go to the outdoor brooder (lined with alfalfa hay) with the older chicks, getting the same treats and food grade DE added to their chick starter. Once they're a month old they go to an indoor pen in the country, getting the same treats, feed, DE and shots. Works for us and they all have a nice heavy breast for their age. Kelso

Do you give them grit too? What do you use for grit?

 

[NeeCee51]

Yes there is "chick grit" I get at TSC

 

[Lomasi]

My 1 day old chicks got hold of some egg shell and they took off and ran like they knew what they were doing! I mean seriously! 1 day old and they know to grab the choicest food and run! All my birds fight over the smallest piece of egg shell.

 

[Lomasi]

Idk why but my birds arent interested in greens or herbs or grass clipping. maybe the lady I got them from didn't feed it to them but I'm hoping to introduce greens and grass clippings to my chicks and see if they will eat them.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Raw old fashion oatmeal, finely crumbled hard boiled eggs, hominy grits, and parakeet seeds are all hard to beat for baby chick treats.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Idk why but my birds arent interested in greens or herbs or grass clipping. maybe the lady I got them from didn't feed it to them but I'm hoping to introduce greens and grass clippings to my chicks and see if they will eat them.

Chickens are mostly uninterested in green things like grass clippings.

Likewise they are mostly uninterested in things like pelletized alfalfa or rabbet food. Canned dog or cat food is a completely different thing.

feeding live crickets can be a good source of exercise if you don't have any grown birds to shortstop the crickets before the chicks can chase them down. Maybe a few minutes in the refrigerator will slow down your crickets enough so the chicks can catch them.

feeding things like Earth worms, crickets, grasshoppers, etc. (especially wild ones) all carry the danger (verses the likelihood) of spreading diseases, and parasites. Use your own judgment, just hope that you brought enough judgment with you.