Question about feeding grit

[jengulledge]

I have had my chicks for 3 weeks,I put a shallow dish in the brooder for a dust bath, but I think they ate it!! Is this normal?

 

[jetdog]

They probably won't dust bath until they are older, mine didn't until they were outside, i would take it out and just wait till they go out.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

It is completely normal for them to have eaten some of ti. What are you feeding them? Are they strictly on chick crumbles or are you giving them other foods as well?

 

[jengulledge]

I have given them a little bit of wheat bread,other than that just the chick start and grow feed. Can I feed them other stuff like vegetables or shoukd I wait? Thanks by the way!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Have you been offering them grit up to now? If not, you will want/need to start doing so before adding anything other than chick feed to their diet. Also, if you haven't been offering grit it makes even more sense that they took the sand as an offering of grit vs. a dust bath. They have "chick grit" that is sized for the little ones - then when they get older/larger you can go to straight regular grit. If you are going to offer supplemental food/treats you need to be giving grit, if you stick with just chick feed you won't need to offer the grit just yet - so it's just a matter of deciding which way you want to go.