Too young for treats?

[CT]

Yesterday I caught a few potato bugs and gave them to the chicks. One chick--Pet--snatched them all! She's the littlest one of the lot, too, so it was very cute to see her run off with her prize. Today, inspired, my daughter caught little *spiders* and gave them to the chicks, who gobbled them up. I'd rather we not bother the spiders, first (and, sadly, foremost) because they give me the heebie geebies, and second because they are beneficial to the garden as they are. I'll be happy to pass the Japanese beetles, though, when they come back next year.

Can you put food in your hand, or will it hurt when they peck it up?

I've given them some chopped greens (wandering jew, I think it is called, and nasturtium flowers and leaves) with limited success. Yogurt--with or without added dry milk and nutritional yeast--seemed to be fairly popular. They were not impressed when I gave them half an ear of corn (previously boiled, but cool from the fridge). I think they ate the melon seeds and "guts" I gave them, but they may have just flung them into the bedding. It is fun to offer them treats. I would like to find something--other than live insects--I could offer to a bird as I hold it that would be readily accepted. I'll have to look for dried mealworms at the pet store. Two of the chicks don't like being picked up, and I want to bribe them to be easier to handle. Even the yogurt, which they seem to like, they won't peck at immediately. If I hold a chick while my daughter offers it a spoonful of yogurt, the chick just sits there, calm and happy (if Pet or Hawk) or visibly struggling to be free (if Annie or Annie 10).

--CT

 

[Lucretia]

So funny to see the little ones who are absolutely fearless! Oh, Japanese beetles and June bugs are a great hit around here, too.

I don't think it hurts when they gobble food out of your hands. You'll probably have some that snatch a little bit harder than others, but they don't actually bite (of course, I have parrots so I find a little peck by a straight-beaked bird is nothing compared to grinding gnawing by a big hooked beak!). At most it feels like a teensy pinch (but usually more just like if you tap a pen against your hand).

My chicks are still such kids when it comes to veggies. LOL! They turn up their beaks at cabbage, lettuce, kale, all that good stuff. But they do love squash and peas (especially cold peas!). Dried mealworms might be good, but even better are the live ones. PetsMart and places like that usually carry them! The chicks go NUTS for those nasty little critters! I want to get some little crickets but haven't gotten that far, yet.

 

[Picc-WA-Girl]

ugly tomato worm! Hope she gobbled that thing down and liked it cause they sure mess up a good tomato plant