Treats

[Firegirl]

I'm new to BYC and being a chicky mommy. We have 2 - 12 week olds and 2 - < 1 week olds. I know as adults you can feed your babies treats but I was wondering how young is too young? I'd like to try it as incentive to build trust.

 

[faykokoWV]

they don't really need treats, you can build trust just by holding them often. If you are giving veggies or bugs as treats make sure they have grit.

 

[earnhardtlvr]

i am a newbie...and I have 29 chicks between 2-4 weeks old. I love to play with them and handle them as much as I can. We just started 2 give treats last week. We give grit (construction grade sand) for them to help digest and to dust bathe in. We have given them live crickets we bought at a pet store, we grab some fresh grass and throw in occasionally, the other night we gave them plain yogurt with their chick starter food sprinkled on top, and hard boiled egg smashed up. They really like the crickets and the yogurt/chick food mix. we try to give a treat 2-3 times a week, but only if they r really eating their food. They all seem pretty happy and r getting more friendly each day!

 

[Dingo]

I've been giving my 2 week olds treats. Just broccolli so far. I have some chicken grit that met the mean end of a hammer so it's small enough for the chicks.
If they were with momma they'd be eating what she was eating, that would include treats if she had access to them and of course grit.

 

[MeowCluckBark]

I don't really give treats as much as I offer other healthy foods for them. I guess I consider things like crickets and worms or corn treats. I offer the older girls outside (6 and 9 weeks old) berries and veggies in a pie tin that sits on top of their hanging feeder. I offer the babies inside plain yogurt mixed with their crumble. When they get a little older I offer really finely chopped up scrambled egg to the babies. I think I started that around 2 weeks. I don't give it everyday either. Their food has what they need in it really. I just like to offer them variety. It's neat to see all the babies rush up around the bowl to eat the yogurt and crumbles. Someone suggested that here. I wasn't able to get them to eat just yogurt. Now the older girls will eat yogurt out of a small cup in my hand without added crumbles. It just took them time to figure it out. I love it when they shake their head and the yogurt flies around LOL I just have to remember to stand back.