Honey water? and other newbie questions

[Iceblink]

My chicks should get here tomorrow, or Friday! Yay! I'm so excited.

I have some questions though.... I've read that when they first get here I should dip their beaks in sugar water for extra energy. Has anybody used honey instead of sugar? I'm not a big fan of refined white sugar, and I thought honey might be more bioavailable for them anyway.
What do you all think?

My second question is, how soon can I start putting "real food" in for them? I was thinking along the lines of fresh greens/wheatgrass, that type of thing. Do they need grit then? If it's just small amounts of 'recreational' food?

I've been lurking and reading for a few months now, and I've learned so much from everyone, thanks so much!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I would not give them honey, for the same reasons they don't recommend you give honey to hummingbirds or young children. Sugar water is not bad for them and is actually good for them the first day. It isn't a permanent part of their diet, it's just to give them a quick revival, after a long, hard trip.

As soon as you start giving anything other than chick starter, I would start giving grit. I would wait at least a week, to let them settle in and stabilize their systems, before starting to add other foods. I would also finely mince any grass that you feed, to prevent any crop blockages.

Congratulations on getting chickens and good luck with the new babies! They are so adorable at that age.

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

We have used Molases - NO HONEY

 

[ksacres]

We also use sugar water for shipped babies. It is strait energy and buys them enough time to fill up on feed. I have had very good results with sugar water, especially if they are longer in transit than they should have been and arrive weak.