What to feed my babies :)

[singlin]

Hi,
I am still a novice when it comes to my chicks. We started out last March with 4 babies. 2 died, 2 lived until this past Feb when a coyote got them. We have had 5 more since that have died (well 4 one was 1 roo to many and we gave him away!) We are now on our second set of babies...they were eggs we incubated from the hens that were killed in Feb

One has a crooked beak. We really don't want to kill her but she is not growing as fast as the others. It is really twisted.
So my first question is, what to do for her?
Secondly, right now I am feeding them starter food.
This just seems like not enough to me. They are not very good with bugs yet, they get nervous and run away

They have had no interest in the veggies we have offered. They are 5 weeks old this Monday. Is it just early for them?
What do you all feed your chickens (babies and full grown)
Also, I have a highly allergic child, he is allergic to most grains. By feeding my birds grains ONLY, am I going to make my little one sick when he eats the eggs? I know you are not Dr.'s but I value this site and your opinions

Thanks in advance!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

1. trim her beak slightly and see if it gives her some relief. She may not be getting enough feed. I did it with one for the first time this year and it grew back in much straighter, gives her no problems now.
2. Starter is enough at this age but you can offer a little corn or better yet a flock block for variety. I give mine wheat, barley, sunflower seeds to encourage foraging. A a few tablespoons of plain yogurt and/or applesauce mixed with a few tablespoons of starter is really healthy for them too - mine get this once a week. Scrambled eggs are another good treat.
3. read through here and check out all the individual recipes, there are many on this thread. As for your boy I can't answer that, logically my mind says he should be fine; however, I do not have a child with grain allergies. Is he allergic to eggs from the store . . . and what would you feed your chickens if not grain?

 

[singlin]

Thanks!
I just read the "treat list" posted here. I would have never thought to feed them yogurt! Going to try it tomorrow. I didn't see buckwheat listed. Is that okay? My youngest eats buckwheat, rice and quinoa...so I would love to feed those if they are safe to the chickens. He can have corn in moderation. No wheat at this point.
How do you trim there beaks? Dog nail clippers? I have never heard of that. Thanks for the tip. She is having hard time, but when I try to seperate her so she can eat, she freaks and wont eat. She wants to eat with her sisters. Poor little thing!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

buckwheat, rice, and quinoa are fine but you have to make sure to keep the protein content high enough. It usually takes a day or two for them to adjust to yogurt. But is hysterical to watch.
Don't stress about trimming the beak and just do a little at a time. Use what you think will work for what you have to do. I wound up trying a few things and what worked for me were a pair of human nail "snippers"? they looked like curved scissors sort of, like something a pedicurist would have. I just got them at the grocery store for like 3.00
since your chicks are not laying yet I wouldn't worry to much about his allergies right now . . . but then I am an old & pretty laid back mom

 

[singlin]

Thanks for the advice! I will try baby clippers first...since I have a ton of them!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

lol I did the same