Help! Chicks going CRAZY for grubs

[oregonmuggle]

Three days ago I introduced dried grubs (broken up for eating ease) to my chicks. They love them, which is good. However, both times when I’ve checked on them a couple hours later, they have emptied their food and water dispensers. This leaves the entirety of the paper towels lining the bottom soaked in water. Could they be looking for more grubs? Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how do you prevent it from happening again? Thank you in advance for any help!

 

[oregonmuggle]

This is the mess they create.

 

[andreanar]

Sometimes its easier to use a small, shallow dish for water. What have you been using? How many chicks and how old? Can you get something in their brooder for them to do? Maybe put in a few clumps of grass with sod attached, that way they have something to dig at and keep them occupied.

 

[oregonmuggle]

A chick waterer. 4 chicks. 2 weeks old. And this only happens after I give them grubs. No other time. Craziness.

 

[oregonmuggle]

I figured it out. I fed them blueberries this afternoon and they were chasing whoever had a blueberry. This made quite the mess and explains what happened. Whew! I will definitely try sod too. Gotta keep them happy. Thanks for your advice.

 

[kissezmychicken]

Funny

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I figured it out. I fed them blueberries this afternoon and they were chasing whoever had a blueberry. This made quite the mess and explains what happened. Whew! I will definitely try sod too. Gotta keep them happy. Thanks for your advice.

LOL so cute! Try giving them the gooey part of a cantaloupe.. I swear it is crack to them. My chicks were screaming and chasing each other. I ran over to see what was happening. I laughed so hard I was in tears. All the chicks chasing one chick... like guys .. I have more that's not the last of it!

 

[lazy gardener]

By 2 - 3 weeks of age, chicks should have 2 s.f. of open space per chick. They double their size every week. I would also put them on shavings or something else for deep bedding. The water needs to be elevated to chest height, and it will be helpful if you do so with the feeder. Are you giving them grit? They need chick sized grit. As @andreanar says, a nice big clump of sod will give them plenty of diversion as well as benefit their health. Sod, placed upside down will give them: first grit, first greens, plenty of minerals, perhaps a few insects and worms and seeds, first dust bath, plenty of games: king of the mountain, and keep a-way. By far the most important benefit is exposure to beneficial bacteria and fungi to give them a healthy gut and immune system, and first exposure to the pathogens they will encounter when they move outside. WAIT! DON'T PANIC! It's actually a GOOD thing for them to be exposed to cocci and other pathogens while they are young, and most preferably in the first 2 weeks of their lives, while their neonatal immune responses are the highest.

 

[oregonmuggle]

By 2 - 3 weeks of age, chicks should have 2 s.f. of open space per chick. They double their size every week. I would also put them on shavings or something else for deep bedding. The water needs to be elevated to chest height, and it will be helpful if you do so with the feeder. Are you giving them grit? They need chick sized grit. As @andreanar says, a nice big clump of sod will give them plenty of diversion as well as benefit their health. Sod, placed upside down will give them: first grit, first greens, plenty of minerals, perhaps a few insects and worms and seeds, first dust bath, plenty of games: king of the mountain, and keep a-way. By far the most important benefit is exposure to beneficial bacteria and fungi to give them a healthy gut and immune system, and first exposure to the pathogens they will encounter when they move outside. WAIT! DON'T PANIC! It's actually a GOOD thing for them to be exposed to cocci and other pathogens while they are young, and most preferably in the first 2 weeks of their lives, while their neonatal immune responses are the highest.

That sounds fun! It's been super wet where I live lately. Well, I live in Oregon so that's most of the year. lol Is wet sod okay for them?

 

[oregonmuggle]

LOL so cute! Try giving them the gooey part of a cantaloupe.. I swear it is crack to them. My chicks were screaming and chasing each other. I ran over to see what was happening. I laughed so hard I was in tears. All the chicks chasing one chick... like guys .. I have more that's not the last of it!

Do you mean the part we normally scoop out and compost? The part with the seeds and such?