My chicks won't eat starter...Help!

[Nsampsel]

X2


A bit of starter, then fine sand does the trick for me. Do not worry until day 3 if your chicks are picky.

I only add the grit in my brooders. Once they make it to the coop the entire run is sand

 

[Nsampsel]

I had the same problem with my chicks this year..they wouldn't eat their chick feed. So I put 2 ducks in with them, the ducks loved the chick feed and the chicks imitated the ducks...problem solved...course now I have 2 ducks.

6 ducks here, but my brooders have all had chicks already in them except for my very first 6 Brought home from TSC (2 were ducks, 2 LF & 2 bantum). Everyone was already eating exactly what I bought, so no worries. I just add new chicks every week or so & move older ones out as they feather & weather permits.

 

[Birde]

Its ok to wet it . I find new babies waist a lot of feed. Try putting the starter in a blender. They won't waist as much & in your case eat it dry.

 

[OR4-hmom]

I had the same problem with my chicks this year..they wouldn't eat their chick feed. So I put 2 ducks in with them, the ducks loved the chick feed and the chicks imitated the ducks...problem solved...course now I have 2 ducks.

I tried that also. How my luck runs I needed up with 2 EE chicks that the bantams taught to "Hold out for the soft stuff." 1 of the 2 EE was a roo, in an already heavy boy year. About 75% started crowing by 4 months, rehomed 13 and ended up keeping 3.

 

[Nsampsel]

LOL...I treat my chicks & ducklings just like my kids when it comes to feeding...Take what you get or go hungry. Never fails, they eat it when they get hungry enuf

 

[krisendaaves]

dear dancingflower68~
i just read your post in response to the person whose chicks wouldn't eat the starter food. what you shared really helped me because last night i
asked for advice about giving mine yogurt every other day. i am worried it will spoil them and cause them not to eat their plain food anymore. they will still eat it, they just don't throw themselves with abandon into the bowl/tray, as they do when i mix the yogurt into their food. knowing that you give yours yogurt daily makes me feel so much better. also, the egg yolk is a great idea, because it has protein, vit e, etc. it has tons of nutrition in it.
another reason that i wanted to write to you is that we just got a chihuahua that was moments from being put into the animal shelter (the people said that she just wandered up, and they couldn't keep her) and we named her pennylily. (which is a compromise through combination. ha. then we learned that there is a flower by this name.)
your salmon faverolles' name indicates that you have a young reader in your home. my boys loved those books.
and just one more thing. i would love it if you would post a photo of your buff brahma, peaches, when she gets a few weeks older (depending on when you posted this. you said your four new babies were "eight days old today!", but i did not see what the date of your post was). we have what i believe is a buff brahma, but as this is the first time i have had chickens, i am as inexperienced as i can be. she, georgia belle, (after my precious 82 year old mother in law), is incredibly beautiful. and relational, which i love. our chicks are five weeks.
i will understand if you are too busy to write me back. sincerely, krisenda.

 

[dancingflower68]

dear dancingflower68~
i just read your post in response to the person whose chicks wouldn't eat the starter food. what you shared really helped me because last night i
asked for advice about giving mine yogurt every other day. i am worried it will spoil them and cause them not to eat their plain food anymore. they will still eat it, they just don't throw themselves with abandon into the bowl/tray, as they do when i mix the yogurt into their food. knowing that you give yours yogurt daily makes me feel so much better. also, the egg yolk is a great idea, because it has protein, vit e, etc. it has tons of nutrition in it.
another reason that i wanted to write to you is that we just got a chihuahua that was moments from being put into the animal shelter (the people said that she just wandered up, and they couldn't keep her) and we named her pennylily. (which is a compromise through combination. ha. then we learned that there is a flower by this name.)
your salmon faverolles' name indicates that you have a young reader in your home. my boys loved those books.
and just one more thing. i would love it if you would post a photo of your buff brahma, peaches, when she gets a few weeks older (depending on when you posted this. you said your four new babies were "eight days old today!", but i did not see what the date of your post was). we have what i believe is a buff brahma, but as this is the first time i have had chickens, i am as inexperienced as i can be. she, georgia belle, (after my precious 82 year old mother in law), is incredibly beautiful. and relational, which i love. our chicks are five weeks.
i will understand if you are too busy to write me back. sincerely, krisenda.

Hi Krisenda! I'm so sorry I did't see this post til just now!!! I'm really glad the advice helped! How are they doing? Eating with gusto now I hope! Yep, mine are still getting yogurt and eggs at 8 weeks now, along with veggies and fruit now. They get a big plate every morning that includes some feed that moistened and they eat every bit!! The rest of the day they just get dry food though!

Pennylily! That's so cute! My chihuahua is my best friend, she adores me! And I adore her! She was from the pound too...they were just dumping her off because she has a patch of missing fur...a little fungal cream cleared it right up. She was also heavy with milk, so obviously she had been nursing puppies that day. I don't know what happened to them

The people bringing her in didn't speak very good english, so they had no info to share. She is a joy though! I've had her about 8 years now!

Yep, precocious little Junie B!! The name certainly fits her too!

Unfortunately we had to have baby Peaches put to sleep on Monday because of Mareks

She was the sweetest little thing. I'm attaching the last photos I took of her when I was trying to nurse her back to health. Good luck with your Georgia Belle!! I hope she fares better than my Peaches!! All the best, Deanna