Dust Baths and Real Food

[Anonymous]

I have ten chicks who are now two weeks old.

They are currently kept indoors, hopefully they will go into a shed next week until they feather up and are big enough for the coops.

I've been giving them things to explore and peck, though i think they would like a dust bath (one has knocked the crumb feeder off and tries to get into), several try and get something going in the sawdust but its too big. Are they old enough for dust baths? Whats the best thing to use (sand?)

Also so far they have only had chick crumbs, when can feed them 'real' foods and what makes good treats for chicks (i think most of this hatch will be for meat)?

thanks

 

[snifter]

I'd give them a dust bath. My chicks free range with their mum in the garden and take dust baths with her from a couple of weeks old. They love it. Just some soil is fine, doesn't have to be dusty per se, it'll soon dry out a bit.

At 2-3 weeks old they will still need to be under a heat lamp for some time, especially at this time of year. I'd not remove that till they are at least 6-8 weeks old and well feathered.

I'd keep to chick crumb till at least 5-6 weeks old, if not a bit older before moving over to growers pellets. Don't give them anything else before then in case it doesn't agree with their digestive system being so young. Although my chicks free range outside from about a week old, they are picking and choosing what to eat with the hen but are still being fed chick crumb also.

If you want them for the table the best thing you can do for the quality of the meat will be to let them free range as much as possible once they are able to go outside. It really does improve the texture, flavour and size of the bird. Also makes for darker leg meat on the legs I find which is great flavour wise. Depending on what breed you are keeping (I choose Sasso's for my table birds as they have a slower growing time of 120 days/3 months from chick to slaughter and therefore meat is much better) I'd ensure fresh greens like broccoli, peas (I cook mine), grated carrot and so on for them with pellets on hand at all times once older. Also a bit of corn before roosting (again once old and big enough) daily.