Meal worms, fruits, vegetable, oatmeal for baby chicks?

[undine]

It's best to keep chicks on chick feed, medicated for the first few weeks. You can add some yogurt or buttermilk to it once in a while. If you want to add treats choose treats that are high in protein like raw sunflower seeds and meal worms. At around 4 weeks I start to give my chicks some fruit and veggie scraps. Starter and grower feed have grit (tiny rocks) in them. But if your chicks are in a brooder or live in a closed run and don't have access to dirt you will need to give your chicks GRIT (tiny rocks) before you feed them anything hard, for example, corn, oats or millet.

You can buy GRIT at any feed store. It comes in two sizes, finer ground for baby chicks and courser ground for grown chickens.

Also, what do you think of crushed oyster shells?

 

[undine]

Okay, so from what I know... oyster shells are great in calcium that chickens need to lay eggs with hard shells and dissolve in their crops overtime. Grits are used for chickens to "grind" up food in their crop and cant be dissolved. So how much is enough of grits for the chicks and chickens since they cant be dissolved? Will that lead to an impacted crop?

 

[aggiemae]

That's the right kind of grit. How many chicks will you have? If it's more than two you will need to buy your feed in larger bags.We have eight chicks, they are 16 weeks old and we are 1/2 way through our 2nd 40 pound bag. Check to see if there is a feed store near you. My sister live in Brooklyn NY and she has a feed store a mile form her house!

Chickens only need calcium AFTER they stop growing and start laying at that point you can switch them to "Layer" feed which already has calcium in it or provide calcium in the form of oyster shells or you can just use (free!) crushed egg shells. My chickens prefer the egg shells.

Grit actually prevents crop impaction. The grit eventually does grind away and enter the digestive system, especially if your chickens eat lots of whole grains. You don't need to worry about it just make sure that they have a pan of grit available at all times so they can replace it. You can nail two tuna cans to the wall of your run and keep then filled with grit and a source of calcium. My hens free range so I don't give them grit as they can find their own when they are foraging.

 

[undine]

That's the right kind of grit. How many chicks will you have? If it's more than two you will need to buy your feed in larger bags.We have eight chicks, they are 16 weeks old and we are 1/2 way through our 2nd 40 pound bag. Check to see if there is a feed store near you. My sister live in Brooklyn NY and she has a feed store a mile form her house!

Chickens only need calcium AFTER they stop growing and start laying at that point you can switch them to "Layer" feed which already has calcium in it or provide calcium in the form of oyster shells or you can just use (free!) crushed egg shells. My chickens prefer the egg shells.

Grit actually prevents crop impaction. The grit eventually does grind away and enter the digestive system, especially if your chickens eat lots of whole grains. You don't need to worry about it just make sure that they have a pan of grit available at all times so they can replace it. You can nail two tuna cans to the wall of your run and keep then filled with grit and a source of calcium. My hens free range so I don't give them grit as they can find their own when they are foraging.

I have 6 baby chicks on the way. Luckily, I did find a feed store thats a few minutes(20mins) away from my house =D. So can chickens tell their food apart from their grits? I know it sounds stupid haha but im just trying to be extra careful because i dont want them digesting too many of the grits which might cause impactaion.

 

[undine]

I have 6 baby chicks on the way. Luckily, I did find a feed store thats a few minutes(20mins) away from my house =D. So can chickens tell their food apart from their grits? I know it sounds stupid haha but im just trying to be extra careful because i dont want them digesting too many of the grits which might cause impactaion.

I just read more about this haha well actually.. i just watched a video on youtube about egg shells replacing grits. Is this true?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You must have a local feed store, purchase your feed in bulk #50 bags. You'll be broke before you know it buying feed online and shipping. # a #50 bag of chick starter will cost you around $16 at your feed store, $1 extra for medicated.

In 20 or so weeks when you may be feeding your hens oyster shells you can purchase it in bulk at the feed store also in stead of the expensive bags up front. I use layer pellets which has the extra calcium in it. Grit is crushed ledge granite. Any stone type will do, my chickens are on the ground so find their own.

 

[aggiemae]

I just read more about this haha well actually.. i just watched a video on youtube about egg shells replacing grits. Is this true?

Grit is CRUSHED ROCKS it DOSE NOT contain calcium. Calcium comes from crushed Oyster Shells that you can buy at the feed store but you can substitute crushed EGGSHELLS for packaged crushed oyster shells.

As for telling them apart... Grit looks like ground gray rocks, Oyster shell is white and unless you buy specialty feeds most chick feed is yellow or tan.

 

[aggiemae]

I know it sounds stupid haha but im just trying to be extra careful because i dont want them digesting too many of the grits which might cause impactaion.

Grit PREVENTS impaction. Learning from a website isn't the best way to go for everyone maybe you should borrow a book from the library so you can reference as issues come up.

 

[undine]

Grit PREVENTS impaction. Learning from a website isn't the best way to go for everyone maybe you should borrow a book from the library so you can reference as issues come up.

LOL i understand now, i was just making sure of things. For sure im going to be buying grits, chick starter at local feed store, and recycle egg shells to feed thanks a lot. youve given me a lot of information XD i just needed opinions from people.

 

[undine]

You must have a local feed store, purchase your feed in bulk #50 bags. You'll be broke before you know it buying feed online and shipping. # a #50 bag of chick starter will cost you around $16 at your feed store, $1 extra for medicated.

In 20 or so weeks when you may be feeding your hens oyster shells you can purchase it in bulk at the feed store also in stead of the expensive bags up front. I use layer pellets which has the extra calcium in it. Grit is crushed ledge granite. Any stone type will do, my chickens are on the ground so find their own.

Thanks