We just recently experienced our first hen hatch out four chicks. We opened an outdoor enclosure for them when they were only a couple of days old. The Momma immediately started teaching them to scratch in the dirt for bugs. After the first week, we enlarged the fenced area (with electric mesh fencing) so the Momma could show her chicks the ropes of foraging big time!

They are all of 3 weeks old now and yesterday's 'lesson' was to learn how to roost. The Momma kept jumping up and down off a lawn chair to encourage them to join her. It is all so amazing to watch. We have cats, so they won't be able to join the rest of the flock for several months.

My baby chicks went hammer and tongs at the smallest size mealworms within a week of hatch. If you have any doubts as to whether they'll choke on them or not, dice the bugs up first.

Yuk, I know. But live bugs are great nutrition. :)

Velvet ~:>

Thanks for the feedback. I was also wondering when you can give them tablescraps (vegetable scraps,meat scraps,etc.),but it sounds like that wouldn't be a problem either. I am also wondering if I could just use sand for grit. Thanx!