What are your favorite high protein treats of your chicks?

[newbie donna]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I did try scrambled eggs as well. Apparently they thought it was a nice, soft bed. Then, I pulled out all the stops and tried tuna. I didn't think that was going to work either. I waited for about 20 min. and I observed absolutely no interest on their part. I was just getting ready to take it up when I looked over to see them eating their crumbles so, I snuck a piece of tuna into their feed. Nothing happened immediately so I went on about reading my book, waiting to see if anything at all would happen. Then, all of a sudden, the brooder started to shake, they were peeping and running, flapping wings and creating all sorts of havaoc. I jumped up to see what in the world was wrong and could see nothing but the mayhem. Then I happened to notice that they were all chasing one of my black chicks. I looked closer still and saw that he had a bit of tuna in his bill and was running for dear life to keep it. At about that time, they found the paper plate of tuna right in the middle of the brooder and dived in! By the time they began to leave, all that was left was the paper plate. They had cleaned so it so that it looked like it could have come right from my cabinet where I store them. So.... I learned a lesson. My chicks don't seem to understand what is food and what is not. I had been expecting a cat or dog like behavior from them, smelling it and diving right in. Just as I was picking up the plate to discard, one of them looked up at me and I swear she said, "so endeth the lesson".

There's always gotta be a smartalec!

 

[Eglantine]

When my chicks were young I gave them dried mealworms that you can purchase for bluebirds - they went absolutely crazy for them and it was a stampede every time they saw me take out the can...I also grew (and continue to grow in winter) sprouts for them. Now that they are a year old I give them leftover meat scraps cut very, very small if there ever are any leftovers! They do love milk and yogurt as well. Gosh, am I spoiling these girls or what??

 

[Organics North]

newbie donna,,
Congratulations, you and your chickens have entered the relm of mutual pleasure from treats...

(Great description, by the way.. I am still smiling.)
ON

 

[Carli]

I decided today to get rid of the leftover chili to the chickens. I sure hope it wasn't a mistake! They got about 2 cups of it, ground beef and black beans. I dunno...what do y'all say? Did I make a big newbie no-no?

 

[3chimama]

Wow I have never thought of giving them scrambled eggs before. I will have to try that.

 

[elmo]

A mother hen is the one who teaches her chicks what to eat. She'll give her special cluck, pick up the food in her beak, then drop it for her chicks to eat. Chicks that are being brooded artificially sometimes need you to take the place of the hen and show them what's food. You can take your finger and "peck" at a new food. All it takes is for one chick to try it and then the rest of them will join in (very enthusiastically).