snacks and treats for the chicks

[pcosmom]

Ok so first question is how do I get them to eat the treats. Do I need to make them into really little pieces? I had some strawberries that where use or loose so I cut them in half and quarters and put them in a little bowl and tried to get them to eat them, and even put a couple on the floor of the brooder and they want nothing to do with them.

Also I have seen lots of posts about what are good treats but what are the things you don't want to feed chicks and chickens?

 

[Rooster61]

Every other day I take a hard boiled egg and mix it with their starter feed...they totally love it!!
Now after I mix it up, I put some in my hand and let them eat from my hand before I put the plate in there with them.

 

[hansolo]

I heard citrus fruits are not good for chickens.
As someone here said, chickens' reaction to treats is an age thing. They are much more willing to try new things when they are older.
It is good to train them so they associate your hands with "treats" though.

I heard oatmeals are really good for them so I keep trying until my chicks would finally like them, but just a tiny better than their starter food, way behind other treats.

 

[AlienChick]

When my chicks were 2 weeks old, they were not interested in any treats at all.

Now they're 5 weeks old and they LOVE strawberries!!!

They'll pretty much grab and eat anything I put in the brooder now.

I don't give them much, just something in the morning when I check on them so they'll know I'm the one with the goodies.

They're still on chick starter, so they don't need anything else.

 

[Weasleysflock]

veggies!

 

[Judy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[felidaet]

Make sure that they have chick grit available before you give them anything other than chick starter feed. You did not mention the age of your chicks. I would wait until they are at least 2 - 3 weeks old. Treats should not amount to more than 10% of their daily food intake.

I have found two favorite treats for chicks. Crushed cheerios (regular kind, not honey nut) and uncooked oatmeal. I never tried giving them cooked oatmeal. I feed chicks treats directly out of my hand. Eventually they will get to big to eat treats like this because they will peck your hands too hard and it will hurt.

 

[64fyermun]

I've been cutting up seedless grapes and giving it to them on occasion, and they love it! I do give them chick grit though.

 

[pcosmom]

Thanks for the link, that helps. Some of my chicks are 2ish weeks some r more like a week old.

I had read about and new about the grit..

as of right now my chicks don't want any treats

 

[Rooneytune]

the two things my girls love is cold cooked broccoli and dandelion greens! they went crazy for both of these things today!