treats at a little over 3 weeks old?

[Ashleyy_x3]

is over 3 weeks old old enough to be given treats? like oatmeal? and if i were to give them oatmeal what would be the best way to prepare it and would i have to give them grit with it?

 

[Judy]

Opinions on here about the age at which to start treats vary widely. I started at 1 week with a little yogurt mixed with the feed. Oatmeal is fine. I know some people cook it; I've never tried oatmeal.

Have you seen they BYC treat page? Hopefully it will answer lots of questions for you.

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

 

[jhfields]

It really depends, I gave them oatmeal, and it was fine.

 

[annek]

my only problem with oatmeal is it is so sticky. If you could water it down or something to change that I think it would be fine. Depending what you use for bedding oatmeal sticks to it and they ingest the bedding too. I only gave it once and will not again until they are older. I think fruit, vegetables, boiled eggs etc. are a better choice at that young age. It needs to be chopped up fine and they need to have chick grit with everything other than the eggs.

 

[SimplyForties]

Why couldn't you just give them uncooked oatmeal? Oatmeal doesn't really swell when cooked so you wouldn't have that "grain" problem. I ground it up in my coffee grinder and sprinkled it over their regular food for awhile. I'd read that as a remedy for pasty butt. They loved it!