New here, and I have a couple questions

[SunnyDayz]

Thank you in advance!

We have 6 chicks, about 3-4 weeks old now. I would like to give them some treats, but wondered what would be a good 'first treat' for them? Also, about grit~I know they need it with treats, but wondered how to give it to them, in a bowl, feeder, on the ground?? Also, since we are in FL, there is quite a bit of sand on the ground. When we take them outside to play will they eat the sand in place of the grit? ...just wondered.

Also, my new babies are still quite skiddish. We handle them gently everyday and bug-hunt for them while we are playing outside but they still seem jumpy and don't want to have much to do with us, lol.
Is there any way to help them to be more social with us?

*edited to add one more quetsion

How long do I need to have them under the lamp? They are fine outside without a heat source for about an hour or so, haven't tried longer. It is warm here, in the 80's and muggy. When I bring them back inside I have the lamp on, but wondering how long they will need it...?

 

[Morgan7782]

Treats from your hand will get them used to you, and as you change water and food that will help desensitize them. Or it has with my four. I just bought chick grit today, and some dried mealworms as a treat. My four chicks are a week old, and they LOVED everything. What I did with the grit is sprinkle it on the feeder, but they ended up kicking it out and preferred pecking and scratching through the shavings to get to it. I haven't noticed them eating the shavings either, they seem to know pretty well the difference. Be sure to give treats evenly lol! My four usually end up scrapping over one or two worms, so I give 4-6. I am pretty sure 3 are pullets, but man they are like roller derby girls, bashing each other over LOL

I also tried Cottage Cheese as a first treat, and yogurt. They were APALLED! They would taste, and run around wiping their beaks like kids being forced to eat broccoli. To each their own I guess lol! Your chicks will make it clear what they do and don't like.

 

[Happy Chooks]

By 3-4 weeks, they'll be fine in 70-75 degree weather. If it's in the 80's during the day, I'd shut off the light during the day and just give it at night. Decrease the temp 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered. (about 6 weeks)

As for treats, mine love carrot tops and clover. Mashed potatoes are so-so to them, but my adult hens love them! I don't give my babies bread at that age, it's probably just me, but I worry about them choking. I hear mealworms are a hit, but I haven't tried those yet.

 

[SunnyDayz]

Thanks for the replies!
I tried feeding them some yogurt... they looked at me like I was nuts

I put some shredded red leaf in the brodder and they ran away from it, lol.
I suppose I just keep trying??

Another question about the grit... I went to 2 farm stores to find some suitable for little ones and couldn't find any. I bought some for 8 weekers and up and strained the smaller pieces through a seive. I hope that's alright. Will they eat the sand on the ground (we are in FL, so lots of sand on the ground) as natural grit?

Thank you for answering the newbie's questions, lol!

 

[Morgan7782]

I just recently offered my week old chicks 'chick grit' and also bought a few lbs of 'chick scratch'. It's like chicken scratch but ground finer. They LOVE it!! If you are able to find these things at a feed store, I am sure they will love it. I offer it in moderation, it is a treat afterall. I also notice they pick and choose through the chick grit, so they will probably find the pieces they can handle without you straining them through.

 

[SunnyDayz]

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Thank you, Morgan

What kind of grit did you give them? Does it have an age recommendation on it?

 

[Beekercat]

I read on mypetchicken.com that you can use parakeet or canary gravel so I bought some at my local Petsmart. According to the gentleman at the feed store where I bought the girls, they don't need it if they're just getting starter feed, but I bought some anyways for when they start getting treats. I'm really new to actually HAVING chickens, but I've been reading/researching/obsessing about them for a long time, so I hope I'm not totally off base.

 

[debilorrah]

I never worry about grit - I live in the desert and the coop, even the inside, is full of it. For treats, chickens are strange. Some LOVE yogurt others hate it. One thing ALL my chickens love, even the babies, is grapes. THe babies take a while to eat them but they have a blast pecking and chasing them around! Mine love apple peels too.

 

[PepsNick]

Watermelon!!!!!!!!! They *love* It To Death!!!!111

 

[sharol]

My chicks dragged their beaks on their towel when I offered them boiled egg. It was hysterical. One would dip into the egg and then think about it for a second or two and proceed to drag her (we hope her) beak along the bottom of the brooder. What a hoot. They really like the cucumber I put in there for a little bit today, but their favorite was the tiny grasshopper that came in with the mail. I stunned it a bit and dropped it in the middle of a group of three of them, and the race was on. Finally the winner (one of the Delawares) gobbled it down and they spent some time looking for more. I need to catch some grasshoppers for them I guess.

Sharol

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