Other Foods to Feed Chicks

[cluckcluckgirl]

We plan to hatch our own chicks probably next spring, but I was wondering if there is anything else that you can feed a baby chick or duckling. They go through food like it's going out of style, about 1 bag will last 10 chicks and 2 ducklings 20 days, and the you don't start to make a profit until they're much older. Not to mention the extremly high fire danger in my state that they already had to close down a major highway due to a fire. I know chicks don't have as developed of a digestive system as a hen, so is there anything(besides chick food) that they can eat?

 

[sumi]

I give mine cooked rice and bread as treats as well as lots of fresh greens like spinach. They can also eat cereal and porridge, but stay away from too much sugar and make sure they get enough grit.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Can they eat that stuff even about 3 days after they're hatched, or what age do you give that stuff to them?

 

[HorseCrazyy]

You can give them your compost like strawberry tops, bread crusts, bad lettuce. Hope that helps

 

[chickenbythesea]

I threw a clump of dirt with the grass hanging on it today.... they didn't quite know what to do with it. They do like oatmeal, watermelon and bread crumbs.

 

[RonC]

I would recomend not giving them anything other than their starter for the first week at a minimum. Two weeks would be better.They will need grit if they eat anything solid other than their starter. Buy your feed in a larger bag and it is cheaper that way. And they don't eat less as they get older,at least mine haven't yet.

 

[gardendufus]

Please note that I THINK these people are talking about supplementing the chick starter, NOT replacing it with these items. I have read that 'treats' really shouldn't comprise more than 10% of the feed. Remember that chicks are developing animals. Like human babies, they need the right amounts of protein, etc. to develop correctly.

I could be wrong, I'm certainly not an expert or even very experienced. FWIW

 

[leirob007]

Okay for starting chicks. FIRST thing to consider is the raised chicken, duck, or whatever is only going to be as good as the feed they are fed.
Starter. Grower is the BEST solution. as it is usually medicated and fortified.
BUT yes you can suppliment it. and make it better and last longer.
crumbled hard boiled eggs. is the perfect food for starting and growing chicks. but lacks the fiber needed to combat the pasty bottom syndrone that will kill them in a day or two if your not watching.
corn meal or the dust from ground corn ( add a touch of vegtable or corn oil to it )
you can put about any seed into a blender and make dust out of it and feed it and be good. just use stuff that does not have hulls.
DO NOT throw them wilted or other refuse untill after they are feathered in well and have been on hard ground to full their gizzards with the tools to work with such stuff.which also gives their imune system a chance to get a jump start on life.
well, that is my opinion anyway,

 

[leirob007]

Okay for starting chicks. FIRST thing to consider is the raised chicken, duck, or whatever is only going to be as good as the feed they are fed.
Starter. Grower is the BEST solution. as it is usually medicated and fortified.
BUT yes you can suppliment it. and make it better and last longer.
crumbled hard boiled eggs. is the perfect food for starting and growing chicks. but lacks the fiber needed to combat the pasty bottom syndrone that will kill them in a day or two if your not watching.
corn meal or the dust from ground corn ( add a touch of vegtable or corn oil to it )
you can put about any seed into a blender and make dust out of it and feed it and be good. just use stuff that does not have hulls.
DO NOT throw them wilted or other refuse untill after they are feathered in well and have been on hard ground to full their gizzards with the tools to work with such stuff.which also gives their imune system a chance to get a jump start on life.
well, that is my opinion anyway,

and grit is not required as long as they maintain that diet. grit is only required when your feeding what can not be digested as it is. any commercial feed does not require grit. free ranging and feeding hulled items do. free ranging they get their grit naturally. if they can walk on dirt they will get their grit naturally. the only time you need to buy grit is when you feed hulled feeds and keep them on an artificial or caged floor. that rarely happens in the real world. if you have room for chickens. I bet they can touch the ground. and they will dig up some grit.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Thanks so much for all your replies. That not only lets me know what other things I can give them, but it helps me to save money.