Well I just read through the MMH thread and it posed several questions. I believe I have read people on here disputing whether to feed with medicated or non medicated chick starter. What is the recommendation for this. I currently just received my third batch of chicks. (one batch per year, I'm going into my 3rd year of having chickens!) I have prev. always used the medicated chick starter. I read on the other thread about problems with calcium deficiency. Should I be feeding my new babies other things along with the chick starter? These guys are 3 days old. I do feed my grown chickens left over fruits, veggies and pick up an occassional box of cereal as a treat! My grown chickens get to free range out in my yard as well, and then they get layer pellets. I feel silly asking this after having birds for this many years.
Feeding questions
Well, this is just what I understand from the forum and reading...Some people would rather not give their chicks medicated starter--1) small groups of chickens kept in clean roomy areas are not at great danger of getting the diseases the medicated are meant to prevent--so why expose them to chemicals unnecessarily. The medicated feed is more useful in crowded production houses. 2) chicks that stay on medicated feed for too long do not develop normal immunity and so may be more vulnerable to some diseases when they are under stress or start to lay. So it is sort of a matter of your own situation, feelings and management. I think the calcium issue is a little more complicated--if you are feeding any chick starter it should have sufficient calcium until they are ready to lay--when they may need additional calcium in the form of crushed oyster shells, or pulverized egg shells. Most experts warn against giving supplemental calcium or high calcium feed to chicks and developing pullets-- it can cause metabolic problems and, I think, kidney damage. I think if you are feeding them fresh mash and supplementing it with little treats they should do wonderfully. Mine went crazy for dry parsely flakes that someone suggested. Got some green into them without diarrhea when they were very young. They were and are still absolutely bonkers for thawed frozen corn. But whether they actually NEED these....? It did help them bond with me. Oh yes they loved meal worms!
How many do you have and what kinds?
Thanks for the response. That makes me feel better. I was starting to get worried that I had been doing this wrong all along, although my chickens are healthy, so I cant be doing too badley. Although I do have 2 hens that are looking pretty lousy. I was going to post pics when I post the pics of my new chicks later and see what people thought. I forgot to mention earlier that I do sometimes suppliment with oyster shells. I only do it sporatically if I notice some thinner shells on the eggs. I have 20 chickens, consisting of astralorps, some black sex link mix breed, buff orphingtons, and aracaunas. The aracaunas are my favorites thus far because I love the colored eggs. So I do have a fairly small flock. I just got 4 silkie chicks, which is why I wondered about the feed. Now I'm wondering if I shouldnt switch over to non medicated feed. These guys came from a private home, so they would prob be fine on non medicated.
We don't feed ours medicated anything. I think it's best to let their immune system strengthen using more natural stuff. We do give ours buttermilk which is suppose to help build their immune systems and also gives them added calcium. And they love it.
Do you mean you feed the chicks buttermilk? I hadnt heard of that, but it sounds good!
as adolescents mine got a lot of fresh raw goats milk. as chicks, parsley, thyme, ACV [AppleCider Vinegar with minced garlic infused] in their water, chamomile and other teas in their water as well. and they don't drink city water either.
i hear yogurt is good too.
Yes, I feed the chicks buttermilk. They may not dive in at first because it is something new. But once they get started they will look for it everytime you go to the pen. I had one that liked to drink it off the tip of my finger. Every time I stick my hand in the pen it comes running looking at the tips of my fingers hoping for a buttermilk drip to catch.
oh, i love that picture in my head! they can run REALLY fast if they think there is a treat!
Ok one more Question! I've read about feeding your chickens eggs shells, but what about cooked eggs? I save my eggs that have cracks and usually cook them for my dogs, can I feed cooked eggs to the chickens to beef up their protein? I know you are not supposed to do raw eggs other wise they will eat their eggs, but what about cooked? Thanks in advance :)
When I raised tiels the avian vet said cooked yolk was a great food for baby birds. He never said anything pro or con about the whites.
MollyD