When can I start feeding treats?

[RNjoy17]

Hi all,
I have a small flock of 1 EE that is 7 weeks old, and 7 BO's that are 4 weeks old. They have been living in their coop for just over a week now. During the day they have access an outdoor covered run, and at nights are in the coop. Am I ok to start feeding them treats like mealworms, scratch, etc? I had a few articles that treats shouldn't be given to young chickens, but didn't know if it would be different since they are already living outside.

Also - What are some of your favorite treats to give you flock?


Thanks in advance!

 

[aart]

Nope, feeding them cooked eggs won't encourage them to eat their own eggs.

Ditto Dat!

Treats are over-rated and often over-used,
more for the keeper than the birds,
and can dilute the nutrition in the feed which will give them optimal growth and health.

Before feeding anything other the starter crumble and eggs,
make sure they have access to chick sized grit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as they have access to grit they can have a small amount of treats like scratch or mealworms. Keep treats minimal, especially with growing chicks that need nutrition from their feed for optimal growth. I mainly use treats to train the birds to come to me.

 

[Katie386]

heres the video

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have a small flock of 1 EE that is 7 weeks old, and 7 BO's that are 4 weeks old. They have been living in their coop for just over a week now.

Am I ok to start feeding them treats like mealworms, scratch, etc? I had a few articles that treats shouldn't be given to young chickens, but didn't know if it would be different since they are already living outside.

My chicks are outside around 5 weeks of age.
I don't give any treats till 10 weeks old.
I give Scratch Grains as a treat daily scattered in their pen at 10 weeks old throughout Adulthood.
In the summer I make them a wet mash with their feed and cold water.
These are the only treats I give.
Kitchen scraps would be given, but I buy frozen veggies ready to cook. GC

 

[MountainWoman73]

Do they still need grit if there are outside pecking and foraging in dirt? Just don't want to cause issues by giving them too much. I was planning on offering when they were laying for the calcium though

No, they don't, although some people choose to offer grit when they're little anyway. Grit is totally different from calcium supplements or oyster shell. Grit is just tiny rocks.

 

[Mellowmalt]

chickens are lactose intolerant.

Would you feed a lactose intolerant kid some cheese? No the mom would give you the biggest slap the next day!

Would you feed a dog chocolate? No the owner will slap you with the vet bill the next day.

So never feed chickens cheese.

My chickens love grit. I can't seem to keep up topping up the grit. Treats are only to distract them when I go see on them.

At the moment I am in the process of training 7 cockerels not to annoy the neighbours. Yesterday did not go well unfortunately - my dog climbed on my fox proof run... It was fox proof but it was not designed to hold a dog nearly as heavy as me so he went crashing in and made a right racket at 5 in the morning.

The ironic thing is I had just bought some dog proof fencing but hadn't put it up yet. He had one of them in his mouth but couldn't see any blood.

Anyway I am rambling, yes treats to distract them, to cheer them up when they have been scared half to death or when it is particularly cold.

Treats are generally fattening and we generally like to check on our birds a lot so it is easy to overfeed treats which won't benefit them, they will just develop a liver disease and die earlier.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do they still need grit if there are outside pecking and foraging in dirt? Just don't want to cause issues by giving them too much. I was planning on offering when they were laying for the calcium though

Depends on your "dirt" - if you have rocky soil or some gravel in areas they can access, then you don't need to specifically add grit.

You are confusing soluble grit (oyster shell, calcium) with insoluble grit (usually granite) though - all chickens need insoluble grit at all ages, but only active layers need calcium/soluble.

 

[Katie386]

You shouldn’t give them raw eggs because that will encourage them to eat their eggs but cooked eggs are different

i don’t think cheese is good for them so I only give a little. they like shredded cheese and sand which cheese which is hilarious when I throw it down whole. I spoil my chickens too much.

 

[nuthatched]

Would feeding them eggs now, risk them eating their own eggs later on?

Do you give shredded cheese? I never knew you could do that! I'm trying to get myself familiar with what "table" food I can give them.

Nope, feeding them cooked eggs won't encourage them to eat their own eggs.
Good starter treats are fruits and veggies.