Treats, what do they like?

[DottieMarie]

I'd like to give the chicks something other than their store bought food. Can anyone give me some suggestions on what they may like and is safe for them? Their only 5 days old, is this too young to offer any "treats"?

 

[JennsPeeps]

In nature they'd eat anything they can swallow & find - ants, bugs, gnats, etc. If you trust letting them outside (supervised), go for it. Lots of people talk about yogurt for chickens. I haven't tried it yet. Check out the "feeding time" forums, too.

Make sure they have grit. I bought grit for parakeets at the grocery store for mine. When they get bigger they'll get grown-up chicken grit.

My chicks are 3 weeks old are just dicovered their first slugs last night. They didn't like the slime but ate the guts once they figured out to disembowel the slug (I had to show them... gag). Their game of keep-away had us cracking up!

 

[DottieMarie]

OMG, you had me laughing and gagging visualizing the slug fest!

 

[rooster-red]

Do a search using the keywords "treats chart"
There is a ton of info on the forum on this subject.

 

[robinaggie]

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

 

[DottieMarie]

Thanks a ton. I figured there would be lots of information available but I'm still not very good on finding the stuff. This will be helpful.

Lisa

 

[xanaxnation]

mine like strawberries, rasberries, pasta, ramen noodles, lettuce, shredded cheese and so far they dont like cherios but they like to make a mess with the o's.... mine are 6 weeks and i started giving treats around a week

 

[HorseFeathers]

plain, nonsugar yogurt
mealworms or waxworms (if you can't find them in your yard they're available at most pet stores)
greens
bugs
aforementioned yogurt mixed with crumbles
worms (look after rains- they're everwhere. If too big just pull em apart. May sound gross but the little ones love it)
anything they can't have

make sure you give them chick grit, and don't give them treats too early.

 

[Robin L]

Thanks for all the info here.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Just gave my 3-week olds plain yogurt with crumbles for the first time. They GUZZLED it down! The RIR seemed like she couldn't shovel it in fast enough.

It was the quietest I've heard them - not a peep!