How often to hold chicks

[Erin80]

Thanks! I will try from the side

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Also a very handy treat for young ones(any really), is yogurt.

I have 3wk olds, the first couple times I gave them yogurt I had to put it in a lid as a serving dish. Now when they see me coming they run to the door of the brooder. I can put some yogurt on my finger and they'll climb all over my hand to get at the yogurt.

If I pick up a chick and hold her for a bit till she calms down, I then offer her the yogurt off the finger and she'll sit calmly and eat away.

best thing about the yogurt is they dont' even need grit for that.

 

[abs45]

Do they need grit for boiled or scrambled egg?

 

[lazy gardener]

No, but I give my chicks grit (from the yard) anyways b/c IMO they were given a gizzard for a reason. They might as well use it for the reason which it was created, and have grit to aid with their digestion.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Do they need grit for boiled or scrambled egg?

My chicks always get a feeding of chick grit before they ever even see boiled egg or old fashion oat meal.

Chicks have a instinctive response called the pecking res ponce.

This means that they peck at or try to eat any thing that they come across. The next time that you have new baby chicks put a sheet of news print in with them. They will try to eat the commas and periods off the page.

Chicken teeth are rare. but not as rare as chicken dentures so I always try to keep my chickens teeth in good shape and that means grit..

 

[Erin80]

You said grit from the yard.......what is that exactly? Little pebbles? I know nothing about grit. So far all my littles have had is their feed and an egg. Can I just buy grit at the farm store?

 

[Dayrel]

You said grit from the yard.......what is that exactly? Little pebbles? I know nothing about grit. So far all my littles have had is their feed and an egg. Can I just buy grit at the farm store?

Yes- grit is hard rock (like granite, not calcium which dissolves). They keep the grit in their gizzards to help grind up various foods (commonly plants/insects). Chick grit is about the size of large sand and adult chickens used a larger grit. They should be able to consume feed and egg yolk fine without grit, but it is a good idea to get some into their systems pretty early to help with anything else they consume.

You should be able to find it at the store. It is cheap.