Treats for Chicks?

[chickbliss]

Hi All. I'm so gad you are here to answer questions. I've already learned a lot from reading other discussions.

Here's the first of many questions I have:

I want my chicks to LOOVE me (they are 2 1/2 weeks old today) so I want to give them treats. But what? I tried a strawberry, they looked at it like it was an alien. Pecked at it like they peck at other weird things, but didn't eat it (it's still in the brooder). What do they like?

Also, how much is too much? (Assuming I find something they consider a treat.) I don't want them to get sick or the runs.

Some of the chicks like being picked up, some tolerate it, and some act like they are being eaten alive when I pick them up. I'm hoping treats will win them over, and I'm hoping to train them to come when I call.

Any treat suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might check out this chart for the do's and don'ts. I'd try anything in the approved list until I hit on something they liked.

I would not give them any treat until they have grit. The starter is formulated so they don't need grit if that is all you are feeding them but their system normally needs it to process there food. You can get away with yogurt or some things without grit but it sure doesn't hurt. I had some sand left over from a building project and just gave them some of that. I do not know if there is a relationship or not, but I had no more cases of pasty butt after I started grit.

Something else I did until they were three weeks old. I introduced one treat at a time to see how their system would react. I think that was being over-protective even at the time but I still did it.

As to how much. The recommendation I've seen is to feed them treats that they can clean up in 10 to 20 minutes. If mama were raising them, they would be getting nothing but what we call treats, but they would be getting quite a mix. Certainly not a scientifically formulated balance but enough of a mix so they did not concentrate on certain vitamins and minerals at the exclusion of other things they need. If you give them what they can clean up in 10 to 20 minutes, they will eat enough of their scientifically balanced feed to get sufficient nutrients.

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

 

[spook]

This is weird but I do this for all my chicks, I'll dip my finger into water, then chick starter mash and hold my finger still and let them come to it, they act like its their last meal!!!

Your birds will need to grow up with you and be consistant.
Good luck

 

[chickbliss]

Ridgerunner,

Thanks for the chart. It's very helpful, especially about what not to feed them.

I've been giving them grit since the day they arrived, I sprinkle it on top of the chick crumbles I put on their floor. (They have a feeder too, but they seem to enjoy scratching in the liter, so I put some extra crumbles on the floor for scratching.)

Do you think I need to put the grit in a container, all in one place, or is scattering it around good enough?

 

[raspeary]

I gave by 10 week chickens stale bread today. I had it in the freezer a little too long and they absolutely love it.

I tried giving yogurt to them when they were two weeks old but they wouldn't eat it. Since then, I haven't really tried anything for them. This was the first time since that I tried treats. Every chicken came running for the stale crunchy bread. They loved it. I'm going to try yogurt again soon though.

Good Luck

 

[raspeary]

Quote:

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
If you look on the bottom of the Treats Chart, you'll see that raw green potato peels are on the list of do not feed. This probably means the potato peels that have turned green from being exposed to the sun, but I wanted to make sure you saw this..