When can chicks eat herbs/vegetation?

[peachRN]

My chicks are a week old, and I gave them a small sprinkle of finely chopped herbs on top of their food this morning, along with a separate dish of chick grit next to it. Not a lot of herbs, literally just a dusting.

Someone on the BYC Facebook page said that they're way too young for that. When is a good time to start?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't do Facebook but did that person say why? If they did say why, then why?

Why do you want to give them herbs? What do you hope to gain by that? If "their food" is legitimate chick feed it should have everything they "need" nutritionally. What is "their food"? And what herbs?

Without knowing what food they typically get and not knowing what herbs I have trouble making definitive statements. As you are offering grit and the herbs are a small amount I don't think it will hurt them.

One of the first things my broody hens do is to take their chicks to a place they can get grit by pecking the ground. Then they take them places where they can start eating things. Some of those things they eat can be plants that might be herbs. When does a broody hen think is a good time to start? Almost immediately. When does a human think is a god time to start? That will vary by the human.

If it makes you feel better to give your chicks herbs, by all means do so. You and your feelings are an important part of this. You will not hurt them if you keep the amount pretty small.

 

[peachRN]

I don't do Facebook but did that person say why? If they did say why, then why?

Why do you want to give them herbs? What do you hope to gain by that? If "their food" is legitimate chick feed it should have everything they "need" nutritionally. What is "their food"? And what herbs?

Without knowing what food they typically get and not knowing what herbs I have trouble making definitive statements. As you are offering grit and the herbs are a small amount I don't think it will hurt them.

One of the first things my broody hens do is to take their chicks to a place they can get grit by pecking the ground. Then they take them places where they can start eating things. Some of those things they eat can be plants that might be herbs. When does a broody hen think is a good time to start? Almost immediately. When does a human think is a god time to start? That will vary by the human.

If it makes you feel better to give your chicks herbs, by all means do so. You and your feelings are an important part of this. You will not hurt them if you keep the amount pretty small.

Thank you for your response! The person on FB said they can choke on them.
I gave them parsley and cilantro, because I had them on hand and they'd go bad if we didn't use them up. I researched beforehand to make sure they were okay/not toxic. It was mainly for a little treat. They seemed to really enjoy it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Choke on finely chopped herbs. No. It doesn't work that way. Choking in something big is possible but unlikely. I know yours are just chicks so they don't need anything very big, but I've found peach or plum pits in gizzards of chickens I've butchered. Those are pretty big for a grown chicken.

What can happen if they eat long strands of vegetation is that a wad can form in their crop. Think long strands of grass getting twisted and wadded together into a clump. That wad can get so big it cannot pass out of the crop. That is called an impacted crop.

Another possibility is that long strands that make their way through the crop may wad up in their gizzard. Again, if it can't pass on through you have serious issues. Guess what, this is called an impacted gizzard. But if they have grit they can grind it up.

Don't let this frighten you, this almost never happens. About the only time you read about this on here someone gave their chickens a lot of long strands of grass in the run. People do that all of the time and it still almost never happens. But that is why some of us recommend of you give you chickens grass run it through the lawn mower twice so the strands are less than 2" long.

You are giving yours grit, which helps their gizzard. You are chopping small quantities of herbs into small pieces. I don't see that you have anything to worry about as far as choking.

Parsley and cilantro are fine. I grow those. When I'm cleaning out the garden my adults may get those, basil, oregano, chives, or thyme. I don't see anything wrong with giving them herbs but I don't see anything great about giving them either.

 

[peachRN]

Choke on finely chopped herbs. No. It doesn't work that way. Choking in something big is possible but unlikely. I know yours are just chicks so they don't need anything very big, but I've found peach or plum pits in gizzards of chickens I've butchered. Those are pretty big for a grown chicken.

What can happen if they eat long strands of vegetation is that a wad can form in their crop. Think long strands of grass getting twisted and wadded together into a clump. That wad can get so big it cannot pass out of the crop. That is called an impacted crop.

Another possibility is that long strands that make their way through the crop may wad up in their gizzard. Again, if it can't pass on through you have serious issues. Guess what, this is called an impacted gizzard. But if they have grit they can grind it up.

Don't let this frighten you, this almost never happens. About the only time you read about this on here someone gave their chickens a lot of long strands of grass in the run. People do that all of the time and it still almost never happens. But that is why some of us recommend of you give you chickens grass run it through the lawn mower twice so the strands are less than 2" long.

You are giving yours grit, which helps their gizzard. You are chopping small quantities of herbs into small pieces. I don't see that you have anything to worry about as far as choking.

Parsley and cilantro are fine. I grow those. When I'm cleaning out the garden my adults may get those, basil, oregano, chives, or thyme. I don't see anything wrong with giving them herbs but I don't see anything great about giving them either.

Thanks again, solid response! I mainly gave it for enrichment purposes. Something different for them to play with and munch on. It would have been composted anyway.