Grit

[kdk1101]

When do I need to add some grit into the babies feed? I got them on Friday and they are almost 2 weeks old. They are on Mana Pro medicated chick crumbles.

 

[GC-Raptor]

If they only eat Chick Crumbles and don't have access to grass, weeds and bugs. Their good.
I offer Grit when I let them outside. Between 2 and 5 weeks.
Give them a small amount of Chick Grit, as they can over indulge.

GC

 

[chickengeorgeto]

When do I need to add some grit into the babies feed? I got them on Friday and they are almost 2 weeks old. They are on Mana Pro medicated chick crumbles.

The short answer is that you are already almost 2 weeks behind schedule on giving your new chicks grit. Chick grit (about 1/16 to 1/8 inch in size should ALWAYS be the very first item that they eat. Follow this up in a few hours with some uncooked rolled oats and smashed up hard boiled egg. At your chicks current age I would go straight to adult sized chicken grit, they are already old enough to use it. Spread a small amount of chick grit on a piece of cardboard for your first offering to new chicks and soon your biddies will be picking it up and scratching the lose grit around like gang busters. So funny to see and educational because chickens, even very young ones already know more chicken things than us humans can ever learn about chickens in a human's lifetime

 

[kdk1101]

If they only eat Chick Crumbles and don't have access to grass, weeds and bugs. Their good.
I offer Grit when I let them outside. Between 2 and 5 weeks.
Give them a small amount of Chick Grit, as they can over indulge. View attachment 1391692 GC

I'll pick some up today. So far they only have access to the crumbles. It has rained all week so we have not attempted to go outside yet.

 

[lazy gardener]

In addition to grit, I give my babies a plug of sod from an untreated lawn. I start this soon after they've figured out the crumbles. It gives them a good dose of beneficial bacteria and fungi to jump start their digestive and immune systems.