Mealworms ok for week old chick?

[suzie walker]

I have six approximately one week old chicks and I wondered if it was okay to give them meal worms yet? i am brand new to this.

 

[Nekhebet]

I've done it. No one has died...

 

[Clay Valley Farmer]

Moma chicken would have had those peeps out scratching up meal worms already.

 

[Denninmi]

Yes, it's ok, but only give them a couple per day each at this time, and gradually increase the quantity. Too many cause diarrhea.

 

[itsalladream]

Some mealworms that you buy are "gut-loaded" meaning they have extra calcium added to their diet. Might want to be careful about that. I don't know (as I'm new), but from what I've read, calcium isn't good for chicks. If you are unsure, you might want to remove them (if they are store bought) from whatever medium they are in and let them purge any added calcium.

I only know this because an exg/f of mine had lots of reptiles and worked at our local enviromental center, and she was always careful about that kind of thing.

 

[Nekhebet]

Quote:
If they are buying them straight from the pet store fridge, not only are they NOT gut loaded, they are starved, half dying and low on nutritional value. I suggest giving them some veggies and chick starter to the mealworms after warming to room temp, before feeding them out.

I used to breed reptiles...

 

[Lisa202]

yes, I remember that when I fed my frog crickets, I had to feed the crickets "Gut Load" first so that they had some nutrition before the frogs ate them. So yes, they are quite empty coming from a pet store.

Give your chicks some grit when you give them the mealworms. While their starter feed will have grit, they need it with anything you would use teeth for. Yogurt, for instance, wouldn't need grit.