how old should baby chicks be before they eat mixed grain

[freddie2443]

got some 12 day old chicks that are with their mums and just wondered if they can start having grains if i mix a bit of small grit with it ? I can't remember how old they should be - know I read it somewhere last year but can't find the info !! Does any one know please ?

 

[Chuck]

Funny thing this ! If I rear chicks on their own in a brooder, I don't feed grain until they are at least six weeks old. However, if they are brought up by a broody, they get grain almost from day one as I don't expect the broody to live on chick crumb. When I first reared chicks, sixty years ago, there was very little else to feed them on and they thrived on whatever was available and chick crumb seldom was. Their first feed always was hard boiled egg mashed up.

 

[freddie2443]

Brill ! Many Thanks