Is it possible to think my chicks are more grown then they are?

[moodusnewchick]

Hi Newbie here,
My chicks are a week and a half. I feel like I may be treating them like they are older. I bring them worms and bugs, give them grape fruit nuts and strawberry tops and let them go outside when the weather is nice (I'm there, the longest they were out was maybe 45 min on a really warm day when I was working on the coop). They just seem so grown to me. Could I be heading for danger by not babying them for a full 8 weeks?

 

[sweetshoplady]

Sounds like to me that you're imitating a mama hen.

 

[silkiechicken]

Better get them to grow up rather than over baby them if you ever hope to get any sleep when you put them out in the coop for good!

They should be fine with some free range time, eating grit from the ground and getting exposure to the organisms living in the soil where you live. This will be great in the long run because they will have time to build up immunities. Just listen to them and they will tell you what they need.