Hi everyone! Been lurking for awhile, and have a question. I was mixing up some hummingbird feeder nectar today, and there was a little left over once the feeders were full. Is this something I could give to chicks as a treat? It's basically just a sucrose/water mix, with hummingbird-safe red coloring in it. The chicks are +/- a week and a half old... RIRs, Australorps and Brahmas. They eat Purina Start and Grow, and have already had some oatmeal, due to a pasting up issue we were having (play sand was provided, for grit). I know I've read that sugar in their water sometimes causes the pasting up. I never gave them any sugar, so I think we just got a couple Brahmas whose fluff was easy to glue together. They are the only ones who pasted, and they're better now. Oh, and cool forum... glad I found it!
I would have to say no on the sugar water. I have no real proof ar reason to say it except that hummingbirds drink nectar--chickens don't. i don't think ti woul be a good idea, but then again, that's just my opinion. Anyhoo--Welcome! And this is a cool forum!
Sugar water isn't the best thing for hummingbirds either. It provides little to no actual nutrition while filling them up. It just attracts them so humans can watch them. It's much more helpful to the hummingbirds to get an actual nectar mix instead of the cheap colored sugar mixes.
I would say that since chickens love fresh greens, fruits, leaves, bugs, etc, that sugar water may not be the best for there little digestive systems. They are used to FIBER FIBER FIBER.
Well, while I was waiting for someone to answer, I went to the store. I bought another hummingbird feeder. Problem solved! I just hate to waste anything, ya know? I wasn't really sure about giving them sugar, though, so I'm glad I waited. Thanks! BTW - to put Akane's mind at ease... The feeders are out for the hummers til the flower gardens get established. The previous owners fed them, but provided no natural source for nectar. Therefore, we moved in to a crowd of confused little birds. Once the flowers get established, the feeders can go away. I want to keep the hummers, they eat bugs.
