What age can my chicks have grass?

[Farmgirl283420]

They need access to grit first, unless they're already outside or have been given access to soil/dirt with grit in it. Impaction can be a real issue.

We have given them grit from the day we got them! But thanks because I know some people forget and that’s not fair to the chicks so thanks for the reminder!

 

[CindyK75]

I find that at maybe 2-3 weeks old I start introducing yard "weeds" (look up what is not toxic) [chickweed and bedstraw/catchweed, stinging nettles (wear gloves!) wild clover and grass in my area of Texas is what I give] to my feed store bought chicks. I provide chick grit in a container near food and I start introducing a shallow cardboard box filled with clean yard dirt, contractor sand (so it has grit in it), "little" diatomaceous earth and powdered lime (First Saturday brand) and some dried herbs to ward off bugs (lice, fleas, ticks, mites) so they can clean their feathers and destress. I also introduce BSF (Black Soldier Fly larvae) to them, cooled scrambled eggs (no butter), tiny pieces of fruit, pieces of cucumber or squash. Of course once they have some feathers and the weather permitting, take them out in a secured run (that you watch over them) to scratch, eat and be happy little chicks!

 

[CindyK75]

Chicken don't eat traditional grasses, like the stuff you take a lawn mower to.

They'll eat the buds off clover flowers, young clover (they uproot them and eat), and well... anything that can germinate and have a seed/grain that can be eaten.

My chicken love clover.

That's odd, my hens love the grasses in the yard, I've watched them snip off pieces and I also give them handfuls tore in pieces in their run when they can't come out. We're on 6 acres so it's a combo of grasses and weeds (wildflowers lol) . They also eat chickweed, catchweed and clovers with the flowers, they LOVE petals off my roses (I don't spray them) and a few wild dewberries now and then.

 

[Vata Raven]

That's odd, my hens love the grasses in the yard

they eat a bit of grass. I think I saw them eat crabgrass, but I think that's a "weed" too. They're not ripping it up like people say they do

I think since they don't eat lawn grass and prefer to eat seeds, they'll eat what they want and leave the rest untouched. Thus, allowing the flower to grow back.