Mealworms for 9 day old chicks?

[ArraAchicksMama]

Hello,
I give my chicks that are even younger than 9 days old mealworms, but I crush them up a bit until they are smaller pieces. I mix them up with crumble and then add water to make mush. They love it.
You can either do that or sprinkle it around their brooder so that they can dig for the mealworms.

So I don't need to mix it with grit?

 

[nuthatched]

Are they thinking the chicks are gonna die when exposed now to the dirt they're gonna be in soon?

They could catch disease and/or parasites from other chickens but it needs to be done eventually. It's not something to be too concerned about

 

[nuthatched]

You sprinkle grit around their brooder if they're eating anything but chick feed.
You don't mix it in.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

So I don't need to mix it with grit?

I didn't And nothing happened.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

They could catch disease and/or parasites from other chickens but it needs to be done eventually. It's not something to be too concerned about

I have no adult chickens. This flock here is my very first. And they're 10 day old and 3 day old.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

I didn't And nothing happened.

Can I introduce our dry yard dirt along with crushed mealworms? Do you suggest?

 

[nuthatched]

I have no adult chickens. This flock here is my very first. And they're 10 day old and 3 day old.

They can be exposed to dirt, just monitor for signs of illness.

 

[Ridgerunner]

And this was when they were 6 day old. I texted the hatchery to ask.

Thanks, I've heard of Jenks Hatchery but don't know any real details about them. I can't figure out what them fully feathering out has to do with their immune system.

I am not a poultry professional. I give mine access to dirt shorty after hatch and have never seen any problems from that. Good luck!

 

[Debbie292d]

Someone at the farm store told me it's "too fatty" for my then 7 day old chicks. They are 10 day old now.

Dried mealworms are 53% protein, 28% fat.

Chick starter is usually 18% protein and 2% fat.
All flock for all chickens is usually 20% protein, 3% fat.

So you can see no matter what age the chicks/chickens are, mealworms are fatty and should be given in moderation, like everything we give outside of their nutritional daily feed.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

They can be exposed to dirt, just monitor for signs of illness.

Well I didn't want it to get there. That is why I am asking .... Thanks