what do chicks eat?

[silkwormlady]

I know what to feed them to start with BUT now what I want to know is how early on in their little lives I can start to offer them goodies so that they are GLAD

to see my hand, because it has treats for them ... instead of running away from it. I am very careful putting my hand into the brooder so that it doesn't come at them from above ... but I want them to be willing to come up to me ... (OK. So I want to cuddle them. Is that too much to ask?)

 

[RAM4171]

I'm a complete nooB but at two weeks we discovered that they go absolutely nuts over June bugs, which there is no shortage of this time of year in East Texas. You know the Sea gull scene in Finding Nemo? mine, mine mine mine. you almost feel sorry for the June bugs, but it's quite hilarious when one grabs a bug and starts running all over the brooder trying to keep her prize to herself.

 

[bigred77]

I'm a complete nooB but at two weeks we discovered that they go absolutely nuts over June bugs, which there is no shortage of this time of year in East Texas. You know the Sea gull scene in Finding Nemo? mine, mine mine mine. you almost feel sorry for the June bugs, but it's quite hilarious when one grabs a bug and starts running all over the brooder trying to keep her prize to herself.

I just saw some June bugs in Central Texas this weekend, dont they know what month it is?

 

[rainbowhatchery]

we feed medicated chick starter

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The short answer is - anything that doesn't eat them first, lol.
The more correct answer would be that for the modern chicken the best diet readily available to most folks would be a commercially prepared poultry feed. For young birds starter/grower ration - which will be fed until the onset of production (egg laying) at which time you can either switch to a layer ration or continue feeding a starter/grower for the entire lifetime of the bird as long as you offer calcium (oyster shell) free choice for those birds who are actively producing eggs to take as wanted/needed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I'm a complete nooB but at two weeks we discovered that they go absolutely nuts over June bugs, which there is no shortage of this time of year in East Texas. You know the Sea gull scene in Finding Nemo? mine, mine mine mine. you almost feel sorry for the June bugs, but it's quite hilarious when one grabs a bug and starts running all over the brooder trying to keep her prize to herself.

Chicken keep-away is hilarious and one of my favorite spectator sports.

 

[rainbowhatchery]

haha funny, whatever doesnt eat them first, very true though they are like pigs and will eat about anything.

 

[TheMallons]

If you want to train your babies to eat out of your hand, try a little crumbled egg. They love it. Our Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock and NH Reds (five each, from Cackle Hatchery) come running to the edge of the brooder now whenever we walk by! And the kids love having the chicks hop up and sit on their hand while they eat.

 

[DaQatz]

Just put the crumbles in your hand, and tap the crumbles repeatedly with your finger. They will catch on and start eating it from your hand.

 

[silkwormlady]

Just put the crumbles in your hand, and tap the crumbles repeatedly with your finger. They will catch on and start eating it from your hand.

I am so-o-o-o-o-o-o impatient! I want them to come to my hand, and crumbles, and come NOW! I'm going to try to crumbled egg since from what I read they (mostly) think that is the cat's meow - no, not that! That they've died and gone to heaven - no, not that either! OK - they like crumbled hardboiled egg a lot.