What treats can I give my hen and her chicks ??? First time owner !!

[SteveBaz]

I treat treats as not needed or should be fed to a new born to 5 weeks. In the first 40 day the chickens spend a lot of the energy the have building the immune system, growing in size, filling in their feathers. They are and the digestive trace is a newborn and needs things like grit and and basic nutrients. After 6 week then introduce bland items but feed them quality items like proteins. Cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, cooked rice. There stool and digestive system is just beginning to function properly. Dairy and meats and eggs are proteins and will tighten up stool, fruits will loosen the stool. So with a brand new bird how much treats you give needs to be chosen and not added to quickly until they and the digestive tract is working and developed.

 

[Grog]

Ok since everyone seems to be missing the "grit" questions in this thread.....

The birds need this to grind food, granite grit is best because it is hardest and lasts longest in the crop. There are different sizes so when you buy it the stuff that works for a parakeet technically will work but is too small even for chicks. If you get a bag of grit from a feed storre you will get the general size needed and it will be granite. if you cant get it there get mason sand or coarse play sand. If the birds free range or are outside on dirt much then odds are they are getting their own grit.

The grit is real only important if your birds either cant get their own and you feed them things other than prepped feed or they are in an are where no dirt gravel or sand is available to them.

I hope this is good for the grit questions

 

[flyjam1979]

thank you! for grit comment

 

[kbreak]

Thank you for the advice about the grit. Right now I have 6 chicks and momma in a pen that is 3-4ft wide about 6-7ft long and 3ft high placed on the ground by my porch. It sits directly on the ground which is grass and dirt. They have scratched around on one end so not much grass left. I am feeding them all the chicken starter. I won't be giving many treats. Trying to get them used to coming close when my hand is close to the wire. The momma hen is the best !! She is very protective and won't let them get to close. Today is the first day she actually would come to the wire and peck the piece of grape from my fingers. She would drop it and call for the babies to come and get it. They are just amazing to watch.
I will limit the treats for sure. I also don't plan on introducing to many different things at one time. That way if they get sick or have a change in stool I will know not to offer it again. The cooked spaghetti was a hit. I figure that is bland enough. I only gave them like 2 strands between the seven of them. It was surely just a tease..

Thanks so much for the advice !!

 

[2goose]

I have yet to find something my flock will not eat.

 

[Beekissed]

The only thing I offer my broody hen and babies, other than their feed, is BOSS. Since my chickens are free ranging, they really love hunting for their own foods and teaching it to their young. The BOSS looks like bugs and the hen immediately starts scratching and clucking to show the youngin's the "black bugs" in the bedding. It is so comical to see the chicks running for this found treasure and watch them model Mom's behavior on their own "black bugs".