ChrisEllis Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Any time now, Chris. If you are giving them other foods, you must also give them chick grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Does chick crumb already contain grit? I've been buying chick grit and mixing it in. .. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Sounds good. Thanks for the advice! Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
