The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: pedigree porker on April 25, 2010, 08:44:59 pm

Title: Feeding chicks
Post by: pedigree porker on April 25, 2010, 08:44:59 pm

We have a broody sitting on a mixture of eggs, due to hatch next sunday. We are hoping to get them back outdoors ASAP, but are wondering about the type of food to offer the chicks? 

Any suggestions appreciated

Thanks

Title: Re: Feeding chicks
Post by: egglady on April 25, 2010, 08:50:06 pm

we've fed chick crumbs to both our ducks and meat chickens - all doing well

Title: Re: Feeding chicks
Post by: CameronS on April 25, 2010, 09:04:18 pm

Chickcrumbs from your feedshop are fine for the first few weeks, then showly intergrate growers pellets as they increase in size for the chooks, as for the ducks i wouldn't haven't clue

Title: Re: Feeding chicks
Post by: Hardfeather on April 25, 2010, 09:58:14 pm

I collect bags of damp leaf mould out of hollows and ditches in the bottom of the beech woods near us, and I fill an indoor pen to about six inches deep. The hen and chicks go in there about 24 hours after hatching, and about twenty four hours after the pen is set up. The hen scratches through the mould and the chicks get a good start on live food. After that they get chick crumbs and regular top ups of leaf mould till they are about three weeks old (weather suiting) and then they go outside to free range.

My hens are very active. This method may not suit all breeds.