Feed Store Run and...Fortex Bowls

I had to make a run to the big-box feed store that always has everything.  It's about a 45 or 50 min drive in non-rush-hour traffic. So I don't go there often and I keep a running list of things I can't get at the neighborhood pet/feed store.  I needed to get a larger hanging feeder, and some other goodies as well.  They were out of the crushed oyster shells I needed, but they had just received a shipment of several different sized Fortex Livestock bowls (I got a small and a larger for different type things).

They Love Their New Bowls

Everyone Eat!

These are great for filling with water and floating cut grasses, grapes, etc., in. They are absolutely the best when it comes to giving treats, leftovers, special goodies, even regular feed. They are made of rubber, heavy and thick. Unlike plastic or ceramic  bowls, the chickens cannot flip them over when they stand on the bowl rim (which is funny when it happens but the contents end up all over me)! It also seems to be easier for them to get at small bits of food, they're easy to clean, they're no more expensive than a regular dog bowl.  I'm also planning to replace our dogs food and water bowls with Fortex next time I make a run to the feed store.

I also got a small bag of layer pellets - they think those are treats too. I want them to finish their starter/finisher crumbles because of the nutrition they provide. I am mixing the layer pellets in with their regular feed. I will be switching them to layer feed soon which leaves us with another decision...Chicken feed organic or not? That will be our next big decision.

The decision to feed organic or not, is a personal one for each chicken keeper. We need to weigh the cost and convenience factor against the 'pesticides and other unpronounceable  chemicals added' factor and decide what works for us and our flock.  I am big on reading and researching labels and ingredients for my family's food and I am just a diligent about what our pets eat.
More researching for me!

Liz-

Safe Treats For Young Chicks

When our chicks turned 3 weeks old we started giving them a few treats. I had to really fight the temptation to give them treats before then. I wanted to do everything I could to keep the chicks healthy from the beginning -include a nutritious diet.     Unless there is a health issue which requires special food they should have nothing but their chick starter feed until at least about 3 weeks old. Starter feed is formulated to be easily digested even by newly hatched chicks.

When those cute fluff-balls look up at you with those sweet little eyes you just want to give them anything that would make them happy!  Avoiding that temptation  gives them a much better start in life…and food should not pose a threat to their health.   

Any treats you give the chicks need to have the peel removed (if possible) and be sliced in very small pieces. Ours love hard-boiled egg yolks (yeah, go figure), figs (we had a tree full of ripe ones), blueberries and strawberries. The little ones can also eat cheerios (no sugar added), bits of cantaloupe and sliced up cucumbers.

Since they are still spending most of their time inside in the brooder I have a shallow dish with small grit available for them when they eat something other than the chick starter feed. Do not leave the grit in the brooder for very long. It is possible for them to eat  way to much grit for they age!

Once the chickens are outside in the coop they will naturally pick up grit, in the form of sand and tiny pebbles from the ground, which aids them in digesting grass, bugs, or treats.

You want your chicks to grow into happy healthy chickens!

Liz-