Treats for the Chicks?

[GAchick]

I finally found a treat that my girls look at with suspicion. I took out a handful of blueberries, and blackberries this morning, and the look in their eyes is priceless. A few of the braver ones have pecked at them, but most are standing around in a circle, eyeballing the fruit.

 

[speckledhen]

When they are under a month old, I'd say no treats other than chopped hardboiled egg, perhaps a tsp of plain yogurt. They do need high protein when they are growing at an astounding rate and treats lower that. Best not to feed any till later, IMO.

 

[rhondapiper]

Quote:
What about high-protein treats? Mine are getting nothing but chick starter and a few dried mealworms a day (beginning around 4 weeks), plus any bugs that fly by. Maybe max 5 mealworms per chick. The mealworms were the key to their greedy little hearts.

 

[speckledhen]

Dried mealworms would be acceptable due to their high protein content, yes. Many folks cant find those at the feedstores, at least around here. Dried is cheaper than live and a few a day would be okay.

 

[jeannieo]

my 9 EE and 3 BO chicks are about five weeks old. I gave them a little crumbled up corn bread about 2 weeks ago. loved it! then today, plain udon noodles and more corn bread. the other day, I gave oatmeal cuz it was sort of cold out. wouldn't touch it until I sprinkled chick starter and a tiny bit of scratch, then it was off to the races! they look pretty healthy, are growing in leaps and bounds, and are outgrowing their third brooder in five weeks! these are my first babies, given to me at one week old by a friend, they are just wonderful!

 

[NancyBrew]

I am a firm believer that chickens are true omnivores and thrive on a variety of yummy goodies. They also need to learn what I offer is good and so this has started their taming process. They all clamor to see what is in my hand when I put it into the brooder.

I have started bringing them a goody bowl every morning, when I first see them so they began to associate yummy treats with the chicken lady (me). Sometimes they get food, sometime holding and sometimes just a visit.

I never give them more than a taste, but so far my two to week old girlies have tried banana (cut to show the tiny brown seeds), strawberries (great keep away items), grapes cut in tiny pieces, a lightly cooked and cooled tender end of a corn cob, kernals cut off and open and cob left for them to pick at, cabbage, cooked carrot chopped up, yummy greek yogurt (god they loved this stuff), celery tops and egg worms (fried till rubbery, with yolk broken and sliced into long strips).

The sweet items and proteins have really perked up the 4 smaller babies and they are all bright eyed and trying to fly they are so energetic. (god help me) The smallest of all is the BR and she is probably the sharpest of all the chicken, she does not miss a thing and tries everything I offer her. Almost like she knows I am trying to catch her up to the big RIR's. She is also the best at keep away.

They also get a bowl of dirt, which is our lovely CA decomposed granite, so tiny specs of granite and earth. (I sift out all the largest pieces) They peck out the grit and then bathe in the remaining dust.... So precious. There is nothing cuter than a chick dust bathing in a bowl... it is TOO cute.

They are looking healthy and are active and still manage to eat almost a feeder full of mash food a day now... good grief they eat TONS! They were out today on the warm sun for about 30 minutes and were ravenous when I put them back in their box.

Yep life is good.... smiles.

NB

Momma to Kate, Penny, Juliet, Charlotte, Sun, Rose, Shannon and Claire.