Question About The Ratio of Chick Starter to Chick Grit. Treats?

[Andrew Myers]

Hello! So I already have my chick feed (non medicated) and chick grit (non medicated) ready as well as dried meal worms. I was wondering what the ratio of chick feed to chick grit should be. Also what is a good treat to build trust? This may sound dumb but, I've heard that chicks and chickens alike cannot eat dried meal worms, is this dangerous and true? Thanks!

 

[Redhead Rae]

About grit, don't mix it in. Just add a little bowl of it on the side for them to eat as they wish. They will figure it out.

 

[Andrew Myers]

About grit, don't mix it in. Just add a little bowl of it on the side for them to eat as they wish. They will figure it out.

Thank you!!!!

 

[DobieLover]

X2 on the grit.
Wait until the chicks are in their third week before offering treats. When they are so young balanced nutrition is important. I would keep the treats to no more than 5%.
I don't know if it's possible with your climate but I offered a clump of sod from my yard as a treat. My chicks went nuts over that.

 

[Andrew Myers]

X2 on the grit.
Wait until the chicks are in their third week before offering treats. When they are so young balanced nutrition is important. I would keep the treats to no more than 5%.
I don't know if it's possible with your climate but I offered a clump of sod from my yard as a treat. My chicks went nuts over that.

I donno where to get sod. Thank you though. Also I live in Ohio and it is REALLY cold right now. Wednesday is going to be -35 and Thursday is going to be -45. My chicks were going to ship this week but, it was to cold and they didn't hatch sadly. THE SUSPENSE!!!

 

[DobieLover]

It's an extremely good thing they didn't ship! They'd have likely died in that cold.
Where did you order from? Meyer Hatchery is in Ohio.

 

[Andrew Myers]

It's an extremely good thing they didn't ship! They'd have likely died in that cold.
Where did you order from? Meyer Hatchery is in Ohio.

I ordered from Murrary McMurrary hatchery in Iowa. But I will look into Meyer Hatchery! THANKS! <3

 

[Redhead Rae]

I donno where to get sod. Thank you though. Also I live in Ohio and it is REALLY cold right now.

If your ground isn't too frozen, I would go out with a shovel and get a small plug of dirt/grass. Doing this is a good way to introduce chicks to the bacteria coccidia so they don't get coccidiosis (coccidia overgrowth).

I've seen people on here buy young show quality birds (6 months old or so) that have been in shelter on wood chips their entire lives. When they bring them home and put them on grass or in a coop that previously had other birds that were on grass in them, the show birds end up dying from coccidiosis because their system had never encountered it before.

 

[Melky]

Hello! So I already have my chick feed (non medicated) and chick grit (non medicated) ready as well as dried meal worms. I was wondering what the ratio of chick feed to chick grit should be. Also what is a good treat to build trust? This may sound dumb but, I've heard that chicks and chickens alike cannot eat dried meal worms, is this dangerous and true? Thanks!View attachment 1657613

Chicks can have extra treats besides starter at 3-4 weeks of age. I would just put the chick grit out free choice.

 

[Melky]

I also would have them on 20% medicated starter grower for first 8 weeks or at risk for coccidiosis. This is a common chicken disease that can lead to death.