What will baby chickens eat

I generally start with some hard boiled egg, chopped into small pieces, or some sweetcorn, again chopped small. At first they look on it as a killer monster, but once they get the taste you'll find they devour it in seconds. And no, it doesn't turn them into egg-eaters later!

Think about it: a hard boiled egg looks, smells and tastes nothing like fresh, uncooked egg. The other treat I give chicks, as a boredom-buster as well as a treat, is a lettuce which I hang from the sides of the brooder box.

Hours of endless fun pecking at it! As soon as your chicks begin eating anything but starter feed, they must be given grit. Chicks with their mother hen will pick up grit naturally from the yard. Again, we need to play mother hen with chicks in the brooder. If you're not sure why chicks needs grit at such a young age, this article will explain all. Chick grit is made of smaller particles than adult chicken grit.

Ask at your local feed store, or buy online if it's more convenient. Bear in mind we are talking about grit only here - never feed your young chicks oyster shell. The calcium will damage their kidneys. Oyster shell is only for adult laying hens. If you have a chick who's struggling, feed some finely chopped hard boiled egg. It's full of protein and helps nourish those who can't eat properly yet. Offer it on a small saucer and encourage the chick, if it's able, to peck at it.

If not, try smudging some on the end of your finger. Keep struggling chicks hydrated, too - water is much more important than food for a baby chick. An electrolyte drink is always a good stand-by, fed from a spoon or by dropper. Keep your chicks on a starter feed until around 8 weeks, at which point they need to have a " grower" feed which keeps pace with the change in their development.

The chicks will be fine and it gets them used to a slightly new taste gradually. Don't be tempted to keep your starter feed for next time you have baby chicks. It tends to go mouldy and the bacteria it produces would be a killer for any new chicks. Click to see my copyright , privacy and affiliates policies. Click here to contact me. Christmas Egg incubator New Articles!

Home Chick care Food. One of my hatches tucking into their chick crumbs at Day 2 in the brooder. Commercially hatched chicks have medicated feed to prevent the spread of disease. A chick feeder that screws onto a quart about a liter jar has a small footprint, making it ideal where brooder space is limited. Fill feeders in the morning, and let the chicks empty them before filling them again.

Leaving feeders empty for long periods of time invites picking, but letting stale or dirty feed accumulate is unhealthful, so strike a healthy balance. Clean and scrub feeders at least once a week. DO think about good gut health! Chickens like it, and the poultry keepers saw positive effects. I doubt it. The science of probiotics is all pretty new. Encouraging the growth of beneficial gut flora fends off harmful organisms through a process called competitive exclusion.

Chicks raised in an incubator acquire beneficial gut flora more slowly than chicks raised under a hen. To enhance their immunity, probiotics are available that are either dissolved in water or sprinkled on feed to give the chicks an early dose of the same gut flora that will eventually colonize their intestines.

A hand substitute is live-culture yogurt, but a little goes a long way — giving chicks too much yogurt will cause diarrhea. Gail Damerow has written extensively on raising chickens and other livestock, growing fruits and vegetables, and related rural know-how in more than a dozen books,… See Bio.

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We don't sell books directly through storey. Support local businesses when you can! Storey Direct: Any help would be appreciated. Thank You. I have the same question, did you get an answer? If you do please contact me and let me know. Not sure if you or anyone can help. A preschool was able to take in chick eggs and have them hatch.

Chick number 10 was the first out but wasn't eating or drinking and seemed sick. We took him home and are trying to feed him and teach him to peck the food on his own. We were able to get one or two drops of sugar water in him but he still isn't eating much. We're new at this and want to help him grow and get stronger. Do you have any advice for me? Please see backyardchickens.

My hens are sitting on their eggs. When the chicks are born do they need to be separated from the rest of the clock? I have 9 hens and 3 roosters. Are you getting chicks from your own hen? Many folks separate the new chickens and their mama from the flock to avoid dead chicks.

Until they are about 8 weeks or older. Otherwise, other adults may peck the chicks and hurt them, plus you want to avoid disease. They are only feed this chicken starter or mash.

The mama hen will usually let you know when the chicks are ready to be moved. She will take goood care of them and protect them from the other hens during the first weeks. I have a neighbor with many chickens and many roosters. They are mixed with ducks and geese too. They wanted to give me eggs but they don't have any training or any vet visits. How safe are the eggs. Though eggs are usually well-protected, there could be problems related to Salmonella or harmful bacteria.

My 1 year old golden comets are becoming increasingly aggressive when I go outside in the yard. They are free range during the day. I walk outside and they come running over to me then peck my legs or jump up at me.

I don't know what to do? I have become afraid of them. Any suggestions? Hello was wondering where can I buy chicks to raise I am in Toronto but I can get them here or up north in north bay erea any idea? I want meat chicken. Excited to get started raising hens for eggs. Plan on having 5 different breeds and getting them days after hatch.

I plan to keep in my garage with temperature regulated. I read that I should put 4 inches of shavings. Should they just poop on that or should there be a screen for the feces to drop away from them. Their coop will have a screen bottom that keeps their floor clean and I can clean the pull out under the screen. I have a 3 x 3 foot counter area by an east facing window for sun a fresh air. Just wondering what should I use to house them for 5 weeks and will this size be adequate for the 5 weeks?

What size dimensions is good for 12 chicks. I don't want to overcrowd or have it be too big either? During the warmer months can newly hatched chicks stay under their mother to grow or will I need to set up a brooder.?

Thanks in advance for any advice. You can leave the chicks with the mother but it will only last 4 to 8 weeks. Usually, it's the mother hen who wants to "wean" them and get back to her flock. In warm weather, you don't really need a heat lamp, but get a secure pen and chick starter until they're 20 weeks old. I am planning on buying some baby chicks 4 or 5 weeks old? We have a glass aquarium and light not in use and I was wondering if this would be okay for them in the beginning.

If not, what would I ask for at the store? Depends on how big the aquarium is. We just bought 6 baby chicks a week old on Sunday. They were yellow and fluffy some had a few feathers coming in. Now, three days later, they are no longer bright yellow but turning tan and brown and some have half of their feathers in. They eat like pigs. I keep my in a clear plastic tub with a screen over the top.

I just bought another bigger tub this afternoon because they are starting to spread their wings and try to fly and I don't like them being crowded.

I like to have them have lots of room. They grow extremely fast. So the aquarium will not last long at all if it's small. The clear tubs are nice cause they don't cost alot and I reuse them for decorations and other things. After only two days our four chicks were almost too crowded in the plastic tub we had them in. I disinfected it, rinsed and dried it out in the sun.

We put in a thin masonite floor and covered with pine shavings. They were so much happier and we can sleep at night not worrying about them fighting or flying out. Please provide the address where can i get the chicks I had put the laced eggs in the boxes but didn't help. Please HELP thank you. Hi, I'm a new chicken owner raising 2 for the eggs. I bought a coop online that said it was for chickens. I got them as week old chicks.. They would go in coop at night.

I want them to be free range and have a large fenced in yard for them. Recently they started roosting on a low sturdy tree branch at night.

It was still very warm. I'm worried about them getting sick. Any ideas on how to get them to come to me? Also we have lots of ivy over the fences and i only found their eggs when my dog was acting crazy on other side of fence - I found a pile of 18 eggs! Is that because of my smell in their 'nest'? Can they get sick in this Sept. Hi there, I have had chickens now for many years for eggs, as well as meat. I must say that just 2 chickens for eggs is not much! Unless you do not eat a whole lot of eggs!

Most people that I know do not feed their chicken well enough to get even one egg per chicken a day. You must feed your chicks a varied diet, as well as the layer hen feed. Also, I feed mine a combination of layer hen feed, or layer crumbles, cracked corn, with oyster shell, and grit mixed in. And, I feed them other left overs from the kitchen, just no potato peels, as they are not good for them. When I clean out my refrigerator, I feed it to my chickens, as slightly old deli meat, moldy cheese, and old left over food is just fine.

My chickens eggs are so tasty that the folks I sell them to say they are the best they have EVER tasted! Of course you can also buy some vitamins, with probiotics as I do to put in the water to keep them healthy.

Never had a sick chick yet! Mealy worms and other treats can upset their tummys, keep them to a minimum. In the winter where I live in Southern Oregon, I must keep some heat lamps on them at night and when the temp drops. We have them in a nice big 10 foot by 10 foot home made house, that is 8 ft high. They like to roost, and this makes them happy. I fear for your chickens getting eaten by a neighborhood cat, or predator bird, as this happens here, if my chickens are not in an enclosed pen.

You can make a nice yard that has chicken wire all around it so they are safe, and can peck in the ground. Good luck, there are tons of info out there, do so research! Debbie :. I found her w 10 babys. Do hens practice on hatching their first chicks? We let our hen lay 13 eggs and left them for her to hatch them. When it was about time. We found 3 little ones scattered dead. Then the hen did not sit on the rest.

Even when we separated her from the rooster. We thought the rooster had killed the chicks. What might have happened? We were so excited and then became discouraged. My husband is trying to incubate the rest of the eggs two days after the incident.

I tell him it's worthless. What do you think? The chickens are 16 weeks old and seem very healthy. I am new to raising chickens. I have a hen that is just a 2 days shy of roosting for 21 days.

She is being protective and won't let me get too close. I noticed a few egg shells under her but I saw no chicks. I was wondering will newborn chicks hide under mom or will they be active and make noise and move around a lot? This may seem like a silly question but there it is. Any advice or guidance is welcome. We've had chicks for years today we went to water and feed and we heard chirping sounds.

I'm pretty sure you should hear something n the first couple of days. Our hensare very pprotective also. I have a about 2month old chick not mine neighbor lets his rome and some born in my yard 3 weeks ago i rescured this young one from a hawk, she is ok except her right leg is affected she is finally walking but with a limp she does not scratch for food like the others what should i feed her?

I have cracked corn that i feed my doves she eats that and i try to find her bugs under rocks and from the pool but not enough i need somethinoething easier i.

My chicks are almost 5 months old. At what age will I know if I have hens or roosters? I gave 6 various breeds. A couple ways would be, roosters start crowing anywhere from 2.

Hens start laying at around 5 months. Me and my fiancee was at a fair and my hubby to be got a good idea to buy these chicks the guy who sold them never told us what kind they are or what to feed them can you please help us I been just feeding them bread well toast then I crumble it up so fine for them and I do know there a little over 2weeks old the guy at least said.

Toast isn't going to supply much in nutritional terms. Go to your farm and garden store and get them medicated grower-starter. If you were told they were vaccinated, then they would get non-medicated. You can also purchase chick grit the one for baby chicks , or put sand in their present home for them to eat. As long as they have sand or baby grit you can feed them greens from the yard or garden - just make sure they don't get any really long pieces that can get stuck in their craw.

Good luck, and enjoy those babies! Peg, You are a wonder! Thank you for being such a helpful and kind contributor to the Almanac community—especially to all those interested in raising chickens! Cheers, the OFA editors.

I have 2. All of her feathers from her back end were completely gone and her skin was exposed. This happened over a 4 hour period of time. We separated her out but she did not make it through the night. This morning 5 days later We found a second one pecked to death as well. She was a bigger chick which is surprising. Her but was clearly pecked, but she did not have any feathers missing.

Is there a reason why this is happening? It is a bit devastating. Hi, I have four 11 week old chicks. Only one of the four is a Rhode Island Red. She has started pulling feathers out of the others, and eating them! Please tell me what I should do! Get the Rhode Island Red away from the rest of them. If she pecks a feather and one of them bleeds, they will peck the bleeding one to death.

I had a hen who was setting on 7 eggs. Rather than leaving them alone he decided to finish cracking the shells. One of them died a short time later, but the other one I have pretty much treated like a new born child the last 48 hours. I have became very fond of this Lil one and do notwant it to die. It will not eat on its own and only scoots around rather than walking.

Can u please tell me what I can do to save my baby. This is very important to me. I will do anything I have to in order to keep it alive. I just don't want it to be to late. Please help me ASAP. I have six four week old chicks, and 35 2 week old chicks, would it be okay to put them together? Hi, I have three week old chicks, two americuanas and 1 polish. Just this week they started pecking at themselves. I noticed it started over the week with the the polish no longer having his cute tuft.

Then as we observed them, we saw them almost obseeively pecking at their own under-wing, tails, etc. They don't seem to be pecking at each other, but instead at themselves. Are they naturally removing the downy fur? Am I not feeding them enough? Are they losing their baby feathers?

This is scary! Did things work out? Seems to be very irritated by it. It seems very lively in all other respects and is eating and drinking. If you put him in a clean brooder area, it's doubtful he has lice or mites, but you should check if he doesn't stop pecking himself. I'm guessing feathers growing in is painful, so that could be what they're doing.

But how could the polish peck his own tuft? Bought four chicks on Easter , one of the kids accidentally let a chick out and it was killed. I know you should not put chicks with older birds, but would it be okay to buy another young chick and keep it with the other four week old birds?

There is nothing wrong with trying. If you see the new one is distressed, you will have to move it out. So, you might want to get more than 1 if you feel it necessary. I have a new born chick 9 hours old. It is in a box with a light over it W. Trying to keep it at 90 degrees. How long does it take for the chick to star opening its eyes and move around. The head has dried yok on it will that take care of its self? Please help!!! I am a 6th grade teacher with newly hatched baby chicks.

One chick has a large bulge--perhaps an intestine protruding. How do I care for this chick? Hi, I'm no expert but I have 4 baby chicks who are showing that same bulge We have added some sand from our yard to their food and that seems to have helped Hope this helps!

It can't hurt to give them a little, but they'll eat too much if you just leave it with them. We are getting 4 one day old buff orpinginton chickens in 2 weeks. Love this board for all it's info. I've learned a lot form it. My question is, we also wanted to get 2 pullets so we don't have to wait till fall to start getting eggs. They will be the same breed but from what I've read here that might cause a problem when they are put together after feathering out.

If we have to feed them separate, that won't be easy. What else should I think about before I decide to get the pullets? You can't put baby chicks in with pullets until they are the same size. This usually takes five to six months. Until then, they need to have separate housing and different food. We built a lightweight rectangular box about 2 feet high, covered the sides with hardware cloth, and made a removable top.

The box went into the hen house, and when the babies feathered out, we moved them into the box. The hens had to jump on the box to get to their roost at night. The hens didn't really want anything to do with the babies.

When the babies were too big for the box, we just took the top off. They were all familiar with each other by that time. We never had any trouble. I read somewhere that by doing it this way, we had shown the hens that the babies were "lower in pecking order", so they had no need to fight each other. I should make myself clearer -- the chicks start in the brooder, then when they don't need supplemental heat weeks, depending on the season I move them into the hen house in their "growing pen", where they stay -- protected from the hens and other hazards of growing up by chicken wire and space-- until they are big enough and smart enough to fend for themselves.

I have 10 straight run Bantums. They are about 5 weeks old. How soon will I be able to tell which are roosters and which are hens? It takes several months.

You can begin to tell when they start to crow. At first, it's quite comical, but becomes the old cocka-doodle-do eventually. When you first think you might have a rooster, you probably do. Did one of them start to grow a comb and none of the others did? It's probably a rooster. Did one grow wattles and the others didn't? Probably a rooster.