when can i feed my chick real food

[Ashburnham]

Nope - 8 weeks only. They are free ranging and get grain in the afternoons.

they will eat "human food" anytime after the first couple of weeks- they are omnivores like us.

 

[gotsomeo13]

ok thanks

 

[graciesmum]

You shouldn't feed layer feed to a chicken who isn't laying, the calcium builds up in there body, it is very dangerous for them, do nof feed layer food if they are not laying

 

[Ashburnham]

Well I guess we will have to agree to disagree on that one, matey!

 

[thatchickenlady]

I think it's best to keep them on the chick starter at this point. If you are using a quality brand it has everything they'll need for proper growth.

 

[gotsomeo13]

wait do you mean that they can only eat human food when there 8 weeks or they can eat it with human food with chick stater at 3 or 2 weeks or no human food at all?

 

[Pent]

Its a matter of opinion. The 8 week debate was for the layer feed, not the human food. You can give them scraps from a fairly early age, I'd wait until they are feathering out a fair bit first. Just for size reasons, so they aren't getting too big a percentage of their diet in scraps. Make sure there is a protein source if you're giving a lot of scraps; all soft veggies isn't really nutritionally acceptable. Also no white bread, or very little; its like sugar to them, fattening, but little nutritional value.

 

[Ashburnham]

Its a matter of opinion. The 8 week debate was for the layer feed, not the human food. You can give them scraps from a fairly early age, I'd wait until they are feathering out a fair bit first. Just for size reasons, so they aren't getting too big a percentage of their diet in scraps. Make sure there is a protein source if you're giving a lot of scraps; all soft veggies isn't really nutritionally acceptable. Also no white bread, or very little; its like sugar to them, fattening, but little nutritional value.

Agreed.

 

[RWise]

I use starter (purina startina) only and never switch down to grower or layer pellets (layer pellets/crumbles are bad for the Roo), table scraps that the dogs dont get, free range. and a bit if grain in the evining, egg shell and oyster shell free choise. My girls and Roos are happy! My chicks eat what they want!

 

[TallJ]

I am wondering about introducing items other than starter crumbels too. My chicks are new, but I just wanted to know when they can have clover, grass, dandelions, oats, mealworms, etc. They are only a couple days old, but boy are they already following the motion of flies and trying to get them already!!