What constitutes a chicken treat?

[write2caroline]

I am so new to this
A lot of people post about giving the chickens treats?

What is used for a treat?

At what age do you give them treats?

Thanks
Caroline

 

[jacyjones]

I waited until mine were about 3 weeks old. I then tried them with small amounts of different things. Grass was first in short pieces. I also made sure they had adlib chick grit. I then moved on to cut up grapes, strawberries, sweetcorn and melon. I keep trying different things but the fruit is favourite.
Good luck. Keep the quantities small so they get their proper feeding from the crumbs.

 

[clickie]

this is the link to a page here on byc that has lots of treats that you can give your chickens.

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

 

[Judy]

You can give some plain live culture yogurt at day one, it is good for them, gets normal gut flora going. You'll probably have to mix it with a bit of chick feed to get them used to it. Just a little -- say for 10 chicks, a tablespoon or so with equal amount of feed, or so. Another good early treat is a bit of cooked egg, or a spoonful of applesauce.

Some give treats starting the first week and some feel you should wait at least 3 or 4 weeks. Whatever you do, don't let it be more than what they can eat in a few minutes; they need the nutrition of the feed.

 

[write2caroline]

Thanks -
I felt so stupid asking but people assume you "know" and I wanted to be sure they were not like dog "treats" purchasable in some prepackaged bag in the feed store.

Caroline
Jax FL

 

[barefootchef]

You know, I've tried all sorts of treats on mine. They just look at me like I am stupid! Harriet just likes her 'Chicky-Chicky Bread' which is just cheap white bread. All I will give her at a time is about a piece the size of a quarter or less. I can call for her and she comes running as fast as her little chicken legs will carry her. When she gets close, if it's not THAT bread she looks at me like I am stupid! She can see whole grain bread with nuts in it a mile away!

 

[Bird Brain]

Spinach! Mine love it. You have a box of babies and throw in little peices and they go CRAZY! They also like zuchinni too.