Treats for chicks?

[Rethia]

Hi all!

I feel like I've been posting here every day since my chicks started hatching.

I've seen different things about when it's safe to introduce chicks to treats, chickweed, mealworms, etc. and chick grit. Some sources say two weeks and other suggests that around nine days, and so forth.

Honestly, it's not unlike having a newborn again. Checking poop, making sure they're eating enough, getting good hydration, interacting with them, etc. So much fun!

Also, when do I introduce a dust bath of some kind? They're already scratching and kicking through their bedding. Does dry dirt work ok for a dust bath? What is a good substrate for a dust bath?

 

[FrostRanger]

You can add a bit of dirt right now if you want. You can give them treats now if you provide chick grit, but chicks especially need as much of their diet as possible to be their feed. What I usually give as a treat is some of their starter mixed with water. They still get the nutrition they need and they think they're getting a treat, win - win

 

[Rethia]

You can add a bit of dirt right now if you want. You can give them treats now if you provide chick grit, but chicks especially need as much of their diet as possible to be their feed. What I usually give as a treat is some of their starter mixed with water. They still get the nutrition they need and they think they're getting a treat, win - win

I tried the wetted feed--they weren't fans. Silly chickies! I have a patch of invasive chick grit that I might sod strip a 6"x12" piece from for them once they're a few days older. They're incredibly only 3-4 days old today! They're extremely hearty and active chicks, though. I think it's mostly because I incubated them rather than getting them from a feed store.

 

[FrostRanger]

I tried the wetted feed--they weren't fans. Silly chickies! I have a patch of invasive chick grit that I might sod strip a 6"x12" piece from for them once they're a few days older. They're incredibly only 3-4 days old today! They're extremely hearty and active chicks, though. I think it's mostly because I incubated them rather than getting them from a feed store.

Chick grit is granite piece that a ground to chick size

 

[Rethia]

Chick grit is granite piece that a ground to chick size

I meant chickweed.

 

[FrostRanger]

I meant chickweed.

Ah, they will absolutely love that then
Also, common chickweed is edible for humans too, I made sandwiches with chickweed growing up (I did a lot of reading about herbal medicine and edible plants among other random topics growing up). It tastes a lot like lettuce

 

[Perris]

I might sod strip a 6"x12" piece from for them once they're a few days older. They're incredibly only 3-4 days old today!

you can give it to them now. Mine are out as soon as the broody brings them off the nest. A sod to work through will do them a lot of good.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've seen different things about when it's safe to introduce chicks to treats, chickweed, mealworms, etc. and chick grit. Some sources say two weeks and other suggests that around nine days, and so forth.

Everybody has their opinion but I have never seen any science to back up any of those claims as to why earlier is dangerous or anything like that.

One of the first things my broody hens do is take their chicks where they can peck at the ground and pick up some grit. After that, she takes them where they can forage. They can eat just about anything and have grit in their gizzard to grind it up if they need it ground up. So as long as they have grit I believe they can eat about anything.

If they do not eat something that needs to be ground up they do not need grit. Chicken feed in pellet, crumbles, or mash form has already been ground up and will disintegrate in digestive juices so they do not need grit for that.

If they are in a brooder and you are providing all that they eat, their chick feed is a balanced diet. They do not need anything else. If you want to feed them treats, keep it fairly minimal. A few treats will not harm them but don't give the so much you mess with that balanced diet from their regular feed.

Also, when do I introduce a dust bath of some kind? They're already scratching and kicking through their bedding.

Whenever you want. If they want to dust bathe they will find a place to do it.

Does dry dirt work ok for a dust bath?

The temptation is too much, I'll go ahead and be a jerk. I know, I'm a bad boy.

What do you think they used of thousands of years before they were domesticated? What do you think they've used for the thousands of years since they have been domesticated. Farmers that have chickens don't provide dust baths for them. Chickens use dirt. Think where the dust in dust bath came from. Rethia, I don't mean to pick on you. I'm laughing at all of the people that carefully explain that you need to add wood ashes, DE, or something else to a dust bath. Wood ashes won't hurt, personally I avoid DE due to respiratory concerns (even food grade) but all they need for a dust bath is dust which comes from dirt.

 

[Perris]

if they are free to choose, chickens will sometimes choose to dustbathe in bonfire ashes

which is why (probably) it was recommended as an addition in old poultry manuals for those who do not let their chickens choose, and some today repeat that trad wisdom.

 

[FrostRanger]

The temptation is too much, I'll go ahead and be a jerk. I know, I'm a bad boy.

What do you think they used of thousands of years before they were domesticated? What do you think they've used for the thousands of years since they have been domesticated. Farmers that have chickens don't provide dust baths for them. Chickens use dirt. Think where the dust in dust bath came from. Rethia, I don't mean to pick on you. I'm laughing at all of the people that carefully explain that you need to add wood ashes, DE, or something else to a dust bath. Wood ashes won't hurt, personally I avoid DE due to respiratory concerns (even food grade) but all they need for a dust bath is dust which comes from dirt.

Agreed, no need to complicate what ought to be simple. KISS is the best philosophy when keeping chickens (and for many other things too)