Treats/Foods

[City Farmer Jim]

I put out a mister 2 days ago. It's been hot and I thought they might like it. The first day they wouldn't even go to that side of the yard. Yesterday they went to that side but nowhere near it. I'm sure today they will go look at it closer. Tomorrow they will probably go give it a peck. Lol.

I have 2 of the "cobra misters" like home depot sells and they don't use them to get "wet" but due like to scratch the moist ground and lay in the shade as they nap lol. I built them a 25 foot mister close to the coop to help keep it cool where they hang out under it.

 

[frostic]

i don't know if anyone shared this article but this is amazing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...—the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens.47738/

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

I started giving my third batch of chicks lettuce, watermelon, strawberries, roses, and cantaloupe at about three weeks.

Second batch of chicks didn't get treats until four or five months.

First batch lived on grass, so they got weeds, grass, and roses.

 

[casportpony]

@MrsBarefoot, congrats on having your thread featured on the homepage!

 

[Jadakraft1]

My babies 2 1/2 months attack me when I walk into their pen because I usually have a treat for them! I have some frozen shredded zucchini that needs to come out of the freezer!! That’s what they’ll be getting!! I’ve also given them watermelon, lettuce, cabbage, apples and some table scraps!

 

[MrsBarefoot]

As long as you provide grit, you can start at pretty much any age. Anything but chick starter requires grit, including grass. I give mine watermelon, dandelion greens, plantain, mealworms, beetles, worms, celery leaves, strawberry tops, tomatoes that are just a bit too aged, and hard-boiled eggs. Pretty much anything I find outside, and table scraps. Keep in mind that you need to know what it is, and that they can have it. Also note that giving them a lot of treats either slows their growth a bit, or makes them fat, depending on how healthy it is. I don't see slower growth as something to cringe away from, as it can make them healthier as adults. Still, use good judgment.

You mean to tell me when I prep my daughters strawberries I no longer have to toss out the top part of it?!

 

[MrsBarefoot]

Our list of treats is pretty varied, raisins, tomatoes, yogurt, cottage cheese, corn(frozen and fresh) yogurt with scratch, yogurt with tomatoes, yogurt with corn, cottage cheese with scratch, cottage cheese with corn, cottage cheese with tomatoes...the yogurt is plain Greek. We are going to try watermelon soon...its been in the mid to high 90's for the last two weeks so they REALLY need a cool treat.

Yogurt everything, huh? Lol Yogurt is yummy Do you put it all into a separate dish?
I gave mine a bit more watermelon today to see if they're still hesitant on it after trying a little bit of it.
They tore it up today! No hesitation
Definitely great treat with this heat!

 

[MrsBarefoot]

I'm digging the variety list from everyone!
Always good to know different things that they can have.
Thanks, every one!

 

[Llillyfnp]

Weve given ours old hamburger buns, celery, apples, mealworms, and watermelon. They went nuts for watermelon! We do sprinkle oyster shell calcium because they started laying this weekend I give a little treat every evening to get them back in their pen lol

 

[Manhen]

What do you use for grit?

I use the expensive stuff from TSC. Go ahead and get the big sack. 25lb it'll last you a long time. For baby chicks I use the chick Grit it comes in 5 lb bags. They cost about 15 and $6 respectively. I think it's the same size as aquarium gravel. The color in aquarium gravel might not be good. So use White. It might not be any cheaper though.