Need help NOW!

[countrygirl06]

I bought 9 chicks at my local TSC this evening, got home and put finishing touches on their temporary brooder, went to place them inside and realized..... I HAVE NO CHICK STARTER!!!! Of course the store is closed by then and the ones still open do not carry anything close to it. Any ideas on what I can feed these 1 week and 3 week old chicks for the night? Got about 12 hours before I can get them chick starter...... Thanks in advance to any suggestions

 

[MrsBachbach]

I bought 9 chicks at my local TSC this evening, got home and put finishing touches on their temporary brooder, went to place them inside and realized..... I HAVE NO CHICK STARTER!!!! Of course the store is closed by then and the ones still open do not carry anything close to it. Any ideas on what I can feed these 1 week and 3 week old chicks for the night? Got about 12 hours before I can get them chick starter...... Thanks in advance to any suggestions

Do you have some plain oatmeal? Like Quaker oatmeal? They will eat that dry. Crumble it a bit with your hands. That will do for a day.

Three week old chicks, you can finely chop some apple. Also, both ages will eat some boiled egg. Boil some eggs and mash up good.

Also, don't know how nutritious it would be, but plain crushed corn flakes or crushed plain cheerios? Could try that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I bought 9 chicks at my local TSC this evening, got home and put finishing touches on their temporary brooder, went to place them inside and realized..... I HAVE NO CHICK STARTER!!!! Of course the store is closed by then and the ones still open do not carry anything close to it. Any ideas on what I can feed these 1 week and 3 week old chicks for the night? Got about 12 hours before I can get them chick starter...... Thanks in advance to any suggestions

Hi

Welcome To BYC


You can make a wet paste out of cornmeal or oatmeal to get them through the night. If you don't have either of those you can give hard boiled egg.

IMHO you need to provide them with Chick Grit free choice so they can process these foods properly.

Watch to see if they are drinking well - add some electrolytes or poultry vitamins to their water and keep them warm.

 

[TattooedChicks]

Just a thought, not that I'm an expert, but what about thoroughly cooked quinoa? If you just so happen to have a box sitting on a shelf somewhere. It's supposed to be pretty complete nutritionally, proteins and such. I know my 3/4 weeks olds have enjoyed it as a nice treat to clean off my fingers.

 

[countrygirl06]

...

I'm not sure what quinoa is so I'm guessing I don't have it lol. I ended up hard boiling some eggs and smashing them up shells and all and added some crushed oatmeal. They are all pretty much sleepin so not drinking anything right now. I'll check them again in the night and morning

 

[MrsBachbach]

Quote:
I'm not sure if it will hurt them, but I wouldn't give them shells at this age. Might be too large for them and too much calcium.