When can you feed chicks treats?

[AshleyRae]

I understand all that I'm just weird I guess. I pick out the animal crackers shaped like goats when I get treats for my pygmy goat, too. There must be other treats I can give them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't give treats to chicks because their intake is so small, I want it to be as balanced nutritionally as possible.
I understand you want to make them love you so in that case I would give them things they might find naturally. Mealworms and crickets will be high in protein. Fruit, like cut up grapes would be good too. Set out a smorgasbord of various wholesome treats in a line and see what they prefer. Then those are the things you want to endear them to you.

You do know the goat doesn't know the animal cracker is shaped like a goat, don't you?

 

[realsis]

I start to offer my chicks nutritious treats at about a month old. Mealworms have been a favorite. I make sure and offer chick grit as well too help them digest their treet. As they get older I'll offer a wider variety of treats. All treats I give no matter the age are organic and nutritious for them. I like giving my older birds organic treats from a company called "treats for chickens" their treats are nutritionally complete and offer a wide range of different ingredients like marigold petals, sea kelp, bee pollen, and oats, flaxseed, alfalfa and much much more. I really like this company because their ingredients are so unique and all organic. I buy mine offline from treatsforchickens.com take a look at the wide variety of nutritional organic treats that they offer. Look at the ingredients in them and I think you will be impressed! My girls go crazy for these treats! Each month I'll buy a couple bags of different treats for them and they love it!! Its nice to offer such diverse ingredients like this company offeres. You should take a look at their website. I like knowing I'm giving nutritional treats. Hope this helps. I wish you the best

 

[AshleyRae]

Thanks for the tips. I do know that Doc can't tell the difference between a goat cracker or any other kind, it's just me.

I will find something good for the chicks. If nothing else we have leftover worms when we go fishing.

 

[chickencoop789]

Im sure they will love the worms

 

[AshleyRae]

I had my son dig up some worms in the yard. Those chicks went nuts! Win-win: I have a way to keep my 8 year old busy over spring break and my girls love the snacks (not giving a lot of worms- I know they need real nutrition too).

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I used to encourage my chickens to eat earthworms until I found out they were intermediate hosts for parasitic worms.
As are beetles, snails, slugs, flies and a host of things that chickens eat. That's another of the reasons my chicks only get chicken feed,

http://parasite.org.au/para-site/contents/helminth-intoduction.html
http://spoonervetclinic.com/roundworms-2/

 

[AshleyRae]

But won't they eat all that when I let them free range?

 

[Godsgrl]

But won't they eat all that when I let them free range?

they sure will, happily and with gusto!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Our girls are closing in on two weeks/just over two weeks (depending on which breed) - they have been happily munching on snacks for over a week now. Egg is definitely their favorite (scrambled) the "grab and chase" is hilarious when we do egg, strawberries have been met with serious skepticism and have been picked up, run across the brooder and dropped FAR away from where they hang out, green beans get picked at but are almost on the same level as strawberries and yogurt (last night's offering) got mixed reviews but they had fun getting their feet in it. They LOVE grass/greens from the yard. We'll be moving some stuff around in the pasture this weekend which is sure to yield some lovely worms for them.
We do starter/grower free choice at all times (though even that is a "treat" when I put it in/on anything but the feeder) - and then one snack a day. Snack time is in the evening (when I get home from work), and they KNOW it - the loos on their little faces when they hear me come into the room at snack time are too much.