got bad advice from a chicken website...

[Sozoed]

I hope I haven't harmed our chicks!
We are newbie chicken owners, with a week old brood of 4 (different breeds). Feeding them medicated mash, fresh water and under a heating lamp. So far so good! They are in great health, and are so cute to watch. Here's where I'm concerned: went onto a site for advice, and the woman says 'feed your chicks greens soon" , so I call my feed store and ask them about it. The guy is a little hesitant, but says 'not lettuce, but other healthy veggies, like broccoli'. So I cut up broccoli really small, and toss a few into the pen.

Then I go onto a trusted site about homesteading/prepping, and ask them. They say NO...don't feed your chicks anything but mash until about 5 weeks of age, and then give them grit along with. Help! I ran and got all my broccoli pieces out of the pen (they hadn't eaten very much at all)...and thought Oh my gosh, i hope I haven't harmed my babies!

I got 3 opinions, from 3 different sources, and all were slightly different.
The problem is who do I trust?
Have I harmed my chicks?

 

[silkieroo]

The general rule of thumb is not to give treats till they are about three weeks of age... But i wouldn't worry about the small amount they consumed... They should be fine. And congrats on your babies!

I love chicks!! Oh and BTW

 

[chickengrl]

I have a feeling you will be OK. They probably didnt' eat much. I keep my chicks on only chick food in the beginning and as soon as you want to try something new you will need to offer insoluble chick grit (smaller for babies) I think it's best to keep them on the chick food so they get all the needed vitamins for a good long time. We don't start anything until they are 5-6 weeks at least. I hope it all works out for you!

 

[Sozoed]

Oh phew! thanks so much for the encouragement, and the welcome!
(Should I give them a little grit, just to be sure?)

 

[Fred's Hens]

Anyone can post on the internet. Just the way it is. There is great help, and AWFUL advice dispensed in just about equal doses.
Here at BYC, on the front page, you will find links to Basics 101 or something akin. You will find books and solid reference and educational materials. Why more folks, who are starting out, do not take advantage is a mystery.
BTW, your chicks will be fine. That is the most important thing.

 

[Sozoed]

Thanks Fred. Yes, we are newbies in all aspects, and my husband has left caring for our chicks up to me and my kids as our new and wonderful hobby. I will be looking at the BYC 101 page, and learning all that I can. Just don't want to do anything to hurt these little ones.

 

[gryeyes]

Lots of people give treats to their chicks after they're a week old, providing grit at the same time. You might get them some grit, or if you have sand in your yard, with small pebbles in it, just give them a small dish of it now.

I buy a 50# bag of "all purpose" or construction sand and fill up a large dishpan for the adult chickens to use for their dust baths in a covered area, during the rainy season. Actually, I keep it full all the time. I pull some sand from that for chick grit, too. Every now and then I replenish the pan of sand with another bag.

Your chicks should be just fine.

 

[chicknhawaii]

You'll find out really quick - like I did - that not all chicken parents share the same views of raising baby chicks. Some will swear by one thing, another will say they raised all of theirs one way while others will tell you, "OMG NO NO NO".

In the end, always err on the safe side. If you have to stop a moment and wonder, stick with what's safest and seek information from here on BYC.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
Good advice from gryeyes-grit will help prevent crop impaction.

 

[AinaWGSD]

They'll be fine. While I personally wouldn't offer anything other than chick starter and maybe fine grit for the first week or three, if you think about it a mother hen would have her chicks all out scratching around eating whatever they found within a few days of hatching.