I bought 16 chicks from a not-too-nearby farmer/poultry raiser, Rhodies 2 wks old and Barred Rocks 4 days old and installed them all in their first cardboard box brooder TOGETHER...Uh, I know they don't recommend putting different age chicks together, but the Rhodies started taking care of the babies early and they all get along fine--I've had 'em for 10 days. Now. On about day 6 I noticed some bloody droppings, but I couldn't pick out which chick was leaving them. Since I always recommend rolled oats for HUMAN fiber problem rectification, I decided to scatter a few in the brooder pen... First event -- they all started to scratch up the litter and went wild for the oats. Second event -- By the second day, no more bloody stools evident. Third event -- they BEG for oats every day, and since it helps them keep the litter stirred up, I happily oblige them. Of course, they get DuMor chick starter feed and all the fresh water they can drink -- their bedding is grass clippings and chopped hay. I don't think it would work with pine bedding, since the oats are the same color as the pine chips. What do y'all think? Have you ever experimented with rolled oats with your chicks? M J DeLeonardis P.S. -- Three of the Barred Rocks from the same batch went to another farm, are on the same feed, and mine are significantly bigger and feathering out faster than theirs....
About those oats......... I was in an emergency situation Sunday ( Easter Morning ) ...we thought the feed store would open later after church and they DID NOT open , so I was without chick starter for half of Sunday ...and when I put in an urgent post to the great BYC'ers ....they recommended oats , among other things, as a fill in, until I could get the proper feed this morning at 8 AM. And the chicks loved it !! I mixed it up with some yogurt and it saved the day!! NOw my fuzzy butts will expect a special treat each time I enter the coop!!
I feed grains to my chickens and when they raise their own chicks they get all the millet and rolled oats and whatever else their little beaks can grab up. I know most people think starter is the way to go and I do that when I have chicks in a brooder but grains have worked just as well for my other chicks that are out with their mamas free ranging. Rolled oats are just fine for your little ones. I tell you what they go really crazy for and that is hard boiled eggs smashed up with rolled oats. Watch you fingers! Those little dinosaurs will fly up and grab it from you!
LOL dinosaurs...flying up...I have on RIR I think is a cockerel, and when I put my hand down in the brooder for them to play with/sit on, he climbs up my arm as far as he can get....What? Those red scratches inside my elbow? Oh, just chicken scratch..... Thanks to all of y'all for your responses.
