Mum takes them out of the coop and into the run which is bare earth around day two. From there on they eat what mum says.
If a mum is reluctant to take the chicks out by day two I put a tray of dirt dug from the run in the coop with mum and chicks and place a bowl of chick food in the tray. They'll pick up the feed spillage and with that some of the grit, minerals and any pathogens that are in the soil. Mum can also start to teach them how to scratch.
The vast majority of the time getting the chicks on to natural ground as early as possible helps the chicks build up immunity to the local environment. I've found this has helped the chicks to grow into fit and healthy hens. Execise has a major impact pn long term health for people and for chickens. I've found it almsot eliminated any cases of pasty butt. The last time I had to deal with pasy butt was with a hen who woundn't take her chicks out of the coop.
Unless one is particularly unfortunate chicks on natural ground as early as possible has a massive reduction of cases of coccidosis; one disease that can kill chicks very quickly.
I don't know your keeping circumstances but I will write, if there is any way you can get the chicks on to natural ground for an hour or with attentive supervision then do that as well as the tray of dirt.
If a mum is reluctant to take the chicks out by day two I put a tray of dirt dug from the run in the coop with mum and chicks and place a bowl of chick food in the tray. They'll pick up the feed spillage and with that some of the grit, minerals and any pathogens that are in the soil. Mum can also start to teach them how to scratch.
The vast majority of the time getting the chicks on to natural ground as early as possible helps the chicks build up immunity to the local environment. I've found this has helped the chicks to grow into fit and healthy hens. Execise has a major impact pn long term health for people and for chickens. I've found it almsot eliminated any cases of pasty butt. The last time I had to deal with pasy butt was with a hen who woundn't take her chicks out of the coop.
Unless one is particularly unfortunate chicks on natural ground as early as possible has a massive reduction of cases of coccidosis; one disease that can kill chicks very quickly.
I don't know your keeping circumstances but I will write, if there is any way you can get the chicks on to natural ground for an hour or with attentive supervision then do that as well as the tray of dirt.
