No grit for 3 week olds???

[newtothis]

I went to my feed store (where I got my chicks and get all my stuff) as I was looking for grit. They said no way to give a 3 week old chick grit. That is only for grown hens. So, they sold me some scratch and sent me on my way saying they will be fine. Does that sound good to you? I was told I can do lettuce as well (not iceburg as it gives them diarreah). Do I chop the lettuce into supper tiny bites?

 

[Wynette]

I actually avoid treats until they are about 8 weeks old, with the exception of VERY soft ones like yogurt, chopped cooked eggs, ets. Anything else, you really do need grit for, and there IS grit called "chick grit" - you SHOULD NOT feed scratch to them until they are much older! If you feed anything other than super soft foods as I've mentioned, they MUST have chick grit.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Just yesteday I listened to some of the most mind bogglingly bad advice on poultry keeping at my preferred feed store. I had to leave the row I was on before I exploded.

If you're only feeding chick starter or any other kind of finely ground mash you do not need grit.

Pretty much any kind of food you yourself could eat without having to chew it then the birds would be able to eat it without needing grit.

But if you would need to use your teeth to eat and digest it then the birds would need grit. For small birds you'd want to give smaller grit. In fact small grit is all that my birds get because I don't supply grit and there is no gravel on my property - just sand. You can use canary/parakeet grit from the pet store or just clean coarse sand. Just don't use the high-calcium stuff with added oyster shell.

I don't care for feeding lettuce myself, but do use cabbage. When you first begin to feed it to young birds chop it fine. Then week by week you can chop it progressively coarser until they can tear it into bite sized pieces for themselves.

There is such a thing as chick scatcch which is more finely ground than what you would feed to adult birds. I'd still want to give grit with it though. Personally in the brooder I favor using rolled oats such as you get from the grocery store. About a hand full every other day broadcast over their bedding to encourage them to keep it turned up and fluffy. They don't need more than that as they should be getting most of their calories and nutrition from their starter feed.

.....Alan.

 

[newtothis]

So my reason for giving them "treats" is to get them more comfortable with me. They still hate when my hand is in the brooder and run like hell when I pick one of them up. I thought if I brought some treats that might help. Sounds like no as I don't think I can feed them egg yolk from hand without a huge mess. I guess I will just try to continue holding them and grabbing them and hope they chill out. They are only 3 weeks.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I thought if I brought some treats that might help.

You can just as easily feed them chick starter by hand.
Food is food to a bird that age​

 

[nancypo]

Just using chick starter per what I have read in books and on-line....

 

[newtothis]

I'll try starter. We will see how it goes. Thanks for the info!!

 

[Jody]

Mine get starter grit. It's a finer grit than standard. I didn't even think my chicks would need it with the starter feed, but feed store suggested I give it to them free choice.

 

[Tala]

I give mine grit the day they start feed, which is about 2days old or the day that I purchase them. I don't have any major issues with pasty butts and I attribute it to the grit aiding their digestion.

If you can't buy chick-sized grit, you can use sand - and it's free!

 

[key west chick]

I feed chick starter. No grit. I honestly have never even offered grit but my chickens are on the ground and have dirt and pebbles they can eat if they need too. Mash and pellets turn into mush when exposed to moisture. The main reason for grit is for things like corn and grains to get ground up in the crop.