Help! My broody mama fed scratch grains to her day-old chicks!

[marli365]

They are 3 new bantam chicks with a Bantam mama. I am worried that they will not poop. I put out tiny chick grit, but she is not pointing that out to them to eat. I even mixed it into their food in an attempt to get them to eat it by accident.
Broody mama hen seemed to break up the scratch for them a bit, but I am still worried. They seem FINE, but in the nesting box in the AM there is no poop to be seen, and I thought they would poop all night in there.
I have been giving them some mini live mealworms, which they LOVE. Mama does not even eat ONE .... so unselfish. Is there a limit to how many mealworms per day they should get? Watching them play tug-of-war with them is hilariously addictive.

 

[PirateGirl]

Since they are with mama, are they on natural ground, dirt, sand, rocks, etc.? If so, they can pick up natural grit even if they haven't touch the grit you specifically fed them. Hopefully this is the case and they will be just fine!

 

[featherhead007]

Oh man, child abuse case pending! She let her chicks eat snacks before their dinner?

 

[marli365]

Since they are with mama, are they on natural ground, dirt, sand, rocks, etc.? If so, they can pick up natural grit even if they haven't touch the grit you specifically fed them. Hopefully this is the case and they will be just fine!

Yes, they are on a bit of dirt underneath the house they have to themselves. The two other adult hens like to watch "chicken TV" through the double-hardware-cloth between their yard and the Bantam house. I let the babies and mama out a couple times a day to eat grass when everyone else is locked in.

 

[marli365]

Does anyone know if there is a limit to mealworms per day for little bantam chicks?

 

[azygous]

It's more important to limit the number to three or four meal worms per chick per handout. Too many overwhelms the crop, even with grit. The twerps will just keep swallowing them as long as you're handing them out. The danger is impacted crop.