When are my chicks old enough for a few treats?

[Astrid]

I have four 2 week old Araucana chicks, all thriving and doing well. When are they ready for an occasional treat? A bit of banana, cucumber peel, etc? Right now they're on chick crumble and water, but the older four girls get snacks in the afternoon, so I"m wondering when I can include something for the babies?

Astrid

 

[Judy]

Your choice. There is no hard and fast rule here that I have seen, other than to keep it limited, like to 10% of their daily intake, to be sure they get the nutrition they need from the chick starter.

That said, it is always a good idea to give some plain live culture yogurt to chicks, especially if they were raised in a brooder, to get some good gut flora going. They will often accept it better, at first, if mixed with a little chick starter or cooked egg. These are all good first treats.

I have some two week olds that get a bit of the treat of the day, if they will eat it, but then, they are being raised by a broody, and she takes them out in the yard to scratch and peck.

Have you seen this?

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

 

[Zoopathy]

Oooh, I was just wondering about this! We got our very first chick-lets (2 BO, 2 EE, and 1 Barred Rock) TODAY, and, at 12 days old (and 90+ degrees out) figured they might enjoy a sojourn into the garden to explore. I wondered about the various yummies they found, but figured if they were being hen-raised, they'd have encountered the same things.

Thanks for reposting that list of "what to feed your chickens", too. That's a great resource!

 

[jacyjones]

I waited until mine were about 3 weeks old before I gave them any other food and then I also gave them adlib chick grit too. They are 6 weeks now and are having a little cut up grass in the morning and then some treats like grape, strawberry, sweetcorn etc in the afternoon. The bulk of their diet is still chick crumbs.

 

[ROC4K]

My hens bring the babies in running

when the treats come out Heaven's Gate(kitchen door). The broody hut is closest to the door and the kennel so they are pretty quick on the draw when it comes to getting treats. At 3 days old the broody would run out and get treats to bring back to the peeps. She of course ground it up a little bit and dropped it in the dirt. Then scratched it around for them to get it. I have plenty of natural grit laying around here and my flock is total free range with shelters. I think yours are ready.