when can I start giving my chicks treats?

[AnneCTanner]

Hi, my chicks are 3.5 weeks old and feathering nicely. My question is, when can I start giving them some fruit or other treats and when can I let them forage for bugs?? I'm new to this thanks!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

You can start anytime, just make sure they have access to chick grit. Some people stick STRICTLY to starter feed because they believe it gives their birds the best nutritional start in life. Other people try to imitate a more natural "foraging" type feeding experience where the chicks get exposed to the stuff they would if they were being raised by a hen (grass, sprouts, bugs, etc.). I don't think either school is wrong, but many people on both sides will argue their side is "right". Do whatever makes you happy.

 

[AnneCTanner]

Thanks so much! Where is the best place to get grit? Is one kind better than another?

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Before I started treats for my chicks I had a couple with Pasty Butt.

After I cleaned up the pasty butt, I put a shovel full of dirt in with them in a coffee can with feeder ports cut in the sides of it. After giving them the dirt I no longer had any pasty butt issues and start giving mine treats not long after. Never did give them any Grit, just the dirt. I figured the dirt would give them access to the same things they would get if they were being raised by a hen.

 

[AnneCTanner]

Awesome, thank you. I have been putting a little sand in their food and on the ground of their coop in place of grit. They are 5 weeks old, can I let them roam out side of the coop? They don't go far from each other, but I also don't want them to get lost or stuck in a bush....

 

[ABard]

Agreed. We gave them mashed boiled egg, strawberries, and sweet potato within a week or two. By about 5 weeks they were outside playing during the day in a small pen, pecking the grass and doing the "grab and run" whenever they found a good bug. Just make sure they have grit.

 

[AnneCTanner]

Now that my chicks are about 10 wks old, their chick starter just ran out. Do I need to continue with chick starter or get layer feed? They free range throughout the day. I'm looking fororganic and best price. Thanks!

 

[DanEP]

No layer till their at least 16 weeks or you get your first egg. The calcium in layer is not good for growing chicks, you can switch to a grower type feed which is still higher in protein than layer without the extra calcium. You can feed the grower till they start laying and then switch over to layer or just leave them on the grower and offer oyster shell on the side. I feed all flock which is 18% protein and have oyster shell on the side so I don't have to worry about who's eating what due to age or laying status or feeding calcium to roosters who don't need it.