When to buy chicken scratch?

[mtcluckers]

I thought chicks eating eggs was crazy.....but I tried a smashed up hard boiled egg and they went bonkers!!

 

[CherishHolland]

Chicks eating scrambled eggs!

Yes but I don't tell them what they are eating

 

[AussieHens96]

our girls get scraps, especially uneaten sandwiches (salad etc) from the parent's work, plus grapes - they also go nuts for grapes, oats, coconut ((optional) and a bit of their pellets mixed together with some greek yoghurt. It's not the cheapest treat so they get it once a week. They also enjoy absolutely everything! Except for leafy greens - cheeky guys!

 

[Ketaped]

I discovered yesterday that along with going INSANE for hard boiled egg, they're crazy about tiny clover - not the kind with the big pink and white flowers, but the tiny little ones with yellow flowers. Strawberries are good, corn on the cob is better, cantaloupe is a fail, earthworms are alternately yummy and terrifying, depending on the chick and inchworms are chickie caviar.

So long as they've got access to grit, mine have been getting treats since they were about 10 days old.

 

[Smoochie]

I cook up eggs all the time for my chickens. I don't eat eggs very much as I know what it is! I wish I could uneducate myself.. Lol I give my eggs away to anyone who knocks on my door.

 

[AussieHens96]

Is grit utterly vital?

 

[debid]

Is grit utterly vital?

It is vital to provide grit for caged chickens getting foods other than milled chicken feed. If your chickens have access to soil, there will usually be plenty of natural grit there. I see mine eat grit while foraging. Grit is their teeth; they wouldn't get nearly as much out of their food if it had to pass through whole.

 

[randys]

My chicks are 11 weeks and I've been giving scratch for a few weeks but not a lot at one time, they love it. They also like strawberries, bananas, love yogurt, blueberries, bread, earthworms, carrots, grass and corn on cob.

Randy

 

[AussieHens96]

It is vital to provide grit for caged chickens getting foods other than milled chicken feed. If your chickens have access to soil, there will usually be plenty of natural grit there. I see mine eat grit while foraging. Grit is their teeth; they wouldn't get nearly as much out of their food if it had to pass through whole.

Our girls are free range in a yard with lots of soil, mulch beds etc. Should we buy grit?

 

[Alaskan]

Our girls are free range in a yard with lots of soil, mulch beds etc. Should we buy grit?

Nope.....

If your girls can access dirt, you can skip the grit.

Still buy the oyster shells if they are laying.