Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[ChrisEllis]

Hi I have 6 week olds silkie chicks and i was wondering when i have to start introducin grower pelllets and when i can start giving them different sort of food. ive read books but i wanted to see what people recomended?

[Egluntyne]

Any time now, Chris. If you are giving them other foods, you must also give them chick grit.

[ChrisEllis]

Hi, Thanks for the advice, please explina chick grit to me.

As in do they eat it at alll ages? and is that the one containing oysters and limestone powder or something? And can anyone recomend the best type they use?

Im quite low on resear h with foods, although my next door neighbour tells me what to buy them etc but its niec to get a second opinion.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

In my local shop they sell tiny pieces of flint grit with nothing added as "chick grit".

 

The oyster shell grit isn't necessary for the little ones as their calcium needs should be met by the correct food being fed, only laying hens may need added calcium for egg production.

 

If you are putting other foods in for the babes, then put a cage cup of chick grit into the run/brooder with them to pick at as they need it..............I assume they will help themselves, my Bufflings of course had mum to show them .........from my experience once they get over the "potential risk of explosion" of every new addition to the run, they take some of everything on offer

 

Sha x

[Saronne]

Does chick crumb already contain grit? I've been buying chick grit and mixing it in. ..

 

 

 

Saronne x

[Lewis]

Chick crumb doesn't have grit in it, but they shouldn't need grit for the first few weeks as the crumb is so small

[Saronne]

Oh! that makes sense.

 

 

My chicks are 8 weeks old now and I still have some chick crumb left (which they are eating). I guess I could mix some growers pellets with what's left to help them get weaned off the crumb. Does that sound right?

 

Saronne x

[Lewis]

Thats what I did at 8 weeks

Still had half a bag of crumb left, so bought a bag of growers and gradually added less and less crumb each day so they get used to the growers, and so that the crumb gets used up. M&T are moulting so they had a bit aswell for a bit more protein

 

 

In the last few weeks I've been giving more treats, adding garlic granules and grit to the feed aswell.

[ChrisEllis]

Ok, and when do i start giving the growers pellets - is it 6 or 8 week u receomend - obviulsy i have lots and lts of crumb left so they WILL eat tht hehe but obvs mix more and more growers pellets in over time plus my polands will finish the chick crumb too

[Saronne]

Sounds good. Thanks for the advice!

 

 

 

Saronne x

[Lewis]

I'd probably say 8 weeks but its up to you to decide, not sure if the cold weather would push it either side of 8 weeks

 

I did it at around 8 weeks and they are fine