Is it okay to feed them meal worms...

[AK BartGirl]

I just got 5 new chicks. They are 6 days old. Is it okay for me to feed them meal worms or other treats? And I have heard about grit. What is it? Thanks for your feedback.

 

[907chicken]

I was searching on here , there is a great search button at the top right of your screen or in the blue menu bar at the top, and from what I can tell you might want to wait till they are a few weeks old, pinch the heads off the mealworms and give them a plate of dirt. Maybe for now stick to mushy type treats like yogurt, banana ect. But Im not an expert, just what I gleemed from my searching.

 

[TerriTerrible]

My chicks are one week old, and I gave them some mini-mealworms yesterday along with some chick grit. They loved them, and there doesn't seem to be any health repercussions. I figured if they were out in the wild with their mama, they'd probably be catching bugs. BUT I'm a brand-spanking-new chicken owner, so you may not want to take my word for it.

 

[nlove_3000]

Chicks ( and chickens) need grit to help breakdown their food. If they are on chick starter alone it's not as much of a need, but when introducing new treats they'll need it. It is also important to make sure that you get grit specifically for chicks. Grit for older chickens contains too much calcium for the young chicks and it can be harmful.

Mealworms are fine

Mine started chowing down a little less than a week old. Just be aware that there are different sizes of mealworms available so I would start with small for the little ones. By three weeks old though the smallest mealworms will hardly keep them happy!

Good luck and welcome!

 

[BethieofVA]

Yes, it is like crack to them!