Can Baby Chicks Eat Things Like Strawberries?

[Awestruck]

I have some 2 week old chicks and some 1 week old chicks in my brooder, and am wondering if I can feed them anything else besides the chick feed. I am not looking for a substitute for the chick feed, but just something for them to play with and enjoy as a treat. I have some organic strawberries and am wondering if I put one in the brooder for them to peck at, would that be ok or are they too young to eat strawberries or anything else besides the chick feed? Thanks!

 

[ChickAsThieves]

Yup, just make sure they have access to chick grit as well so that they can grind it up!

 

[ChickAsThieves]

You don't need much! I remember when we bought the first 5lb bag at the feed store, the old timer there was like, "This bag'll last ya as long as ya got chickens!"

Now I see why because our bag of grit barely has a dent in it three years later!

 

[snow5164]

Hello,
Just make sure the " treats" don't take over the diet . I personally don't give treats til they're grown . They need all the nutrients the feed gives them to grow and if they eat treats they won't be hungry for the feed.

I know it seems fun, but there are many non food treats . For instance my baby's play with a ping pong ball ... yup silliest thing you'll see, they love newspaper , they tear it up!! A cardboard box , they'll peck it til its dead!!
Cat toys are great for chicks too

 

[caboodleschicks]

You can start introducing chicks to treats at 1 week old, so your chicks will be fine! Just make sure you watch them while they eat treats, so they don't get choked!

http://www.bootsandchickenpoop.wix.com/mysite

 

[Kiki]

Treats are yummy!
i have always given my baby chicks treats...small pieces..with a side of grit or dirt.
Never had a problem.

 

[HARRY47264]

Hi everyone Yes I feed my new chicks what I call chicken salad starting at about 1 week old. Greens are really cheap in the grocery store right now probably coming out of Florida I feed them kale,carrots,turnip greens, parsley
alfalfa sprouts and cantaloupe all chopped up very fine they absolutely love it .When they see me lower the paper plate into the brooder they try to jump onto the plate before it hits the floor. it takes them about 3 minuets to clean up both plates. In addition to these greens they get hard boiled eggs every day .There are 33 chicks in the brooder and they also eat 2 quarts of 20% chick starter every day.
I don't remember how fast my chicks grew last year but with this diet I can see tremendous growth they will be 3 weeks tomorrow I will bet they have quadrupled there weight. I think they are very happy chickens

Have a nice morning
Harry

 

[HARRY47264]

Hi everyone Yes I feed my new chicks what I call chicken salad starting at about 1 week old. Greens are really cheap in the grocery store right now probably coming out of Florida I feed them kale,carrots,turnip greens, parsley
alfalfa sprouts and cantaloupe all chopped up very fine they absolutely love it .When they see me lower the paper plate into the brooder they try to jump onto the plate before it hits the floor. it takes them about 3 minuets to clean up both plates. In addition to these greens they get hard boiled eggs every day .There are 33 chicks in the brooder and they also eat 2 quarts of 20% chick starter every day.
I don't remember how fast my chicks grew last year but with this diet I can see tremendous growth they will be 3 weeks tomorrow I will bet they have quadrupled there weight. I think they are very happy chickens

Have a nice morning
Harry

Forgot to mention they have a continues supply of play sand and ground fine granite

 

[jasonvanorder]

The last week or so Ive been giving ours the tops off the strawberries. The chicks go crazy for the the leaves. Also been giving them about 1/2 an apple sliced up without the seeds. Just something to keep them busy and they love it.

 

[ChickAsThieves]

The last week or so I've been giving ours the tops off the strawberries.

My adult birds LOVE those. It's so nice to make the most of our produce... there's never anything wasted with chickens!