Nurtition

[Claud'schick's]

My baby chicks are almost 4 weeks old is there any treats or foods I can a start introducing them too?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would wait until after 8 weeks. The only thing I feed besides the ration is a bit of scrambled eggs. After they get a taste for them they will love them and it will help them grow like weeds. Other extras should wait until they are older to avoid deficiencies.

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

When my chicks were that age, they enjoyed lots of treats like cut strawberries, scrambled eggs or chopped hard boiled eggs, plain Greek yogurt and dried mealworms.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you have not already done so, give them a plug of sod from an untreated lawn. I'm assuming you have them in your house? They should be off heat by now, if that is the case, and spending increasingly longer lengths of time in their coop/run. By 5 weeks of age, they should be good to move into the coop/run full time.

The only other treat I give aside from the sod (placed upside down) is scrambled egg. My chicks are tearing around in their run by 3 weeks of age, chasing bugs and digging for worms. By 4 - 5 weeks, they have completely weaned themselves off their MHP. I'm in zone 4B.

 

[Kiki]

My baby chicks are almost 4 weeks old is there any treats or foods I can a start introducing them too?

What ever you decide to give them as a treat be sure to limit it to a very small amount and only one time a week.
DO NOT make it a bad daily habit.
The absolute best thing you can do is to keep them on a complete poultry feed diet...only.

Thing of treats as you eating candy or chips...how do you think that is going to affect your health if you eat it every day?

 

[Lonesome Dough]

I didn't want to start my own thread for this simple question so I thought it would fit here. the bag of chick starter says to feed until 22 weeks our chicks/pullets are now 9+ weeks and act and look like adults. Do they really still need starter or is there a mid step feed before layer mash?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I didn't want to start my own thread for this simple question so I thought it would fit here. the bag of chick starter says to feed until 22 weeks our chicks/pullets are now 9+ weeks and act and look like adults. Do they really still need starter or is there a mid step feed before layer mash?

I feed a chick starter long term or switch to an All Flock. Layer isn't a necessary ration, just an option. Layer should be fed as the sole ration to actively laying hens. Those not laying, roosters or young ones do not need all the extra calcium. I personally put bowls of oyster shells for the calcium needs, and do not use a layer.

 

[Kiki]

I didn't want to start my own thread for this simple question so I thought it would fit here. the bag of chick starter says to feed until 22 weeks our chicks/pullets are now 9+ weeks and act and look like adults. Do they really still need starter or is there a mid step feed before layer mash?

It doesn't matter at this age what they look like...feed it until they are 22 weeks old.

 

[lazy gardener]

I didn't want to start my own thread for this simple question so I thought it would fit here. the bag of chick starter says to feed until 22 weeks our chicks/pullets are now 9+ weeks and act and look like adults. Do they really still need starter or is there a mid step feed before layer mash?

I assume your starter is not medicated? It's not advisable to keep chicks on medicated feed long term. I believe the cut off recommendation is around 10 weeks.

If you have a feed ration available to you which is high enough protein, and not layer, and COMES IN A PELLETED FORM, you might consider switching them to that before the layer feed stage. Birds are resistant to change. By putting them on a high protein pellet, they will get over the adjustment to pellets before they are hit with the change to a lower protein layer feed. IME, all birds find the higher protein feeds more palatable. And, IME feeding crumble causes more waste than feeding pellets. Also, IME, feeding fermented feed of ANY FORM is preferable to feeding dry.

 

[Claud'schick's]

Thanks for all your feedback