When can chicks start getting "extras" in their diet?

[mcb0374]

New to chickens...haven't seen this information anywhere.

When can I start giving my chicks something besides chick starter? I mean like a treat...and what would a baby chick like for a treat?

 

[Michael Apple]

You can start giving them a sprinkle of chick grit in their feed after 2 weeks of age. Minimal additions at first of fine, clean grass clippings, chick scratch are acceptable until they get outside on range. The starter is the primary source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for growth, so you don't want to replace that. When they are outside for awhile and their immune systems are strong, you can start giving more variety. Most all they will desire is what is available on range.

 

[The Chickeneer]

You can give chicks treat as soon as they are on grass, because they will find grit, or you can keep them in the brooder and feed them chick grit. Grit are tiny little stones in the gizzard of a bird that help grind up their food for better digestion. Once they have grit, good treats for them is grass clippings, lettuce, crushed up cereal, bread crumbs, bugs and insects and little pieces of fruit like tomato and peach. I wouldn't feed them any cracked corn til they are near two months of age because it may be too hard for them to digest.

 

[Michael Apple]

Don't get chick scratch confused with cracked corn. Chick scratch is finely ground corn, milo, and red wheat. Chick scratch is commonly given to chicks to help firm them up from pasting. It is easily digested.