When can I start feeding chicks treats like seeds, meal worms, etc.?

[HappyPeepFarms]

I started giving corn, bread and other treats when they were old enough to go outside (when their fully feathered) mostley bread I'm sure you could give corn also when they first go outside

 

[AccioJinx9810]

Thank you to all above for your posts! I find them very useful.

 

[allanjensaft]

Useful "feed" - pardon my pun!

Mealworms ordered for the chicks

 

[ktdeluxe]

Hi,

I realize that this is an older thread.

I have been raising chickens for three years (three broods). I find that chicks raised with their mother are more likely to eat a wide variety of different types of food. The mother hen will click and tell them what to eat and what not to eat.

However for those eggs that hatch late and that I raise inside in a brooder, I find that the chicks are very reserved in trying new foods.

Example, today one of my naturally raised chicks found a beetle that was as long as her head (she/he is 10 days old). She ran to her mother dropping the beetle every six inches for so and the mother hen promptly chopped the beetle into pieces. The indoor late bloomer chicks won't eat new foods such as bananas, watermelon, grapes, etc. No mother hen to tell them that something is good.

John

 

[ktdeluxe]

Someone mentioned halved grapes for chicks. Mine are 3 weeks old. Do I have to also give them grit if I give them grapes? I have 5 year old chickens outside but would like these to be raised a little more people-friendly. We realize we made some big mistakes with the first batch and are trying to correctly raise these.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

Someone mentioned halved grapes for chicks. Mine are 3 weeks old. Do I have to also give them grit if I give them grapes? I have 5 year old chickens outside but would like these to be raised a little more people-friendly. We realize we made some big mistakes with the first batch and are trying to correctly raise these.

Hey, I am curious about this as well!
I have 5 chicks...
1 - 4 wks old
2 - 3 wks old
2 - 2 wks old

It's been getting pretty hot where I live (in the 100's!) And I was curious what age was appropriate to start giving mealworms, watermelon (fresh/frozen?), grapes, etc..

Plus, I wanted to try training them

 

[the_peep_squad]

Hey, I am curious about this as well!
I have 5 chicks...
1 - 4 wks old
2 - 3 wks old
2 - 2 wks old

It's been getting pretty hot where I live (in the 100's!) And I was curious what age was appropriate to start giving mealworms, watermelon (fresh/frozen?), grapes, etc..

Plus, I wanted to try training them

I started mine on mealworms on week 2. They LOVED them.

Week 3 we started some fresh fruit. Watermelon, strawberries and blackberries. They only liked the strawberries.

Week 4, I tried some carrot and celery scraps with little interest. We tried Watermelon again and now they love it.

We are closing in on week 5. I put some lettuce with a dirt and roots ball but nobody was interested.

 

[Ryguy3684]

At 4 weeks mine loved watermelon. It's also a great way to hydrate them on hot days. We also hung a head of cabbage, with a string, and let them eat it and bat it around like a tether ball. It was endless entertainment for them. The cabbage lasted longer than lettuce, since it's denser. For the first couple of days outside, I sprinkled a little chick grit on top of their food, to make sure they were eating it. Just keep an eye on the grit dish, to make sure they are not eating too much grit.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

At 4 weeks mine loved watermelon. It's also a great way to hydrate them on hot days. We also hung a head of cabbage, with a string, and let them eat it and bat it around like a tether ball. It was endless entertainment for them. The cabbage lasted longer than lettuce, since it's denser. For the first couple of days outside, I sprinkled a little chick grit on top of their food, to make sure they were eating it. Just keep an eye on the grit dish, to make sure they are not eating too much grit.

Good to know! I just picked up a bag of grit can't wait to try the watermelon!

 

[3KillerBs]

My chicks are brooding in the outdoor run and started stalking tiny sugar ants within half an hour of getting there. A little later they ganged up on a spider.

So I gave them some sand to make sure they could digest the bugs they were hunting.