What Do Baby Chicks Eat?
Raising baby chicks is an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you’re starting a backyard flock for fresh eggs, teaching kids about animal care or simply enjoying the charm of fuzzy little fluff balls, raising chicks is a great springtime activity. However, these little fluff balls require proper nutrition to grow into healthy, thriving adult chickens. One of the most important things a new poultry keeper needs to understand is what do baby chicks eat?
At BioZyme®, creators of Backyard Boost®, we wondered the same thing. We love baby chicks and watching them grow into productive egg layers. This guide covers everything you need to know about feeding baby chicks, including types of feed, when to introduce treats, water requirements, common mistakes and more.
The Basics: What Do Baby Chicks Eat?
From the time they hatch, chicks need a balanced, nutrient-rich diet to support their rapid growth and development. In the first few weeks of life, their bodies are rapidly developing bones, muscles, feathers and immune systems—so feeding them correctly is essential.
Chick Starter Feed
The primary food for baby chicks is chick starter feed, also referred to as starter crumble. This feed is specifically formulated to meet the dietary needs of chicks from hatching until about 6 to 8 weeks old. Chick starter comes in two main varieties:
- Medicated Starter Feed
- Non-Medicated Starter Feed
Let’s break those down:
Medicated Starter Feed
Medicated feed contains a small amount of amprolium, a coccidiostat that helps chicks build immunity to coccidiosis, a common parasitic disease that can be fatal. This feed is recommended if your chicks are not vaccinated against coccidiosis or if you’re raising them in areas where the disease is prevalent.
Non-Medicated Starter Feed
This feed has all the nutrients chicks need but without medication. It’s ideal if your chicks have already been vaccinated for coccidiosis or if you’re raising them in a clean, dry brooder with minimal exposure to pathogens.
Regardless of whether your chick starter feed is medicated or non-medicated, chick starter feed typically contains around 18-20% protein, which is essential for rapid growth. It also comes in a crumbled texture. The crumbled form is easy for tiny beaks to pick up and digest.
When & How to Start Feeding Baby Chicks
So, what do baby chicks eat? What and when should you feed them? Once chicks have hatched and fluffed up, usually within 24 hours, they are ready to start eating. Place chick starter in a shallow, clean feeder that they can easily access. Avoid deep containers that could cause them to fall in and get stuck or soiled.
It’s also critical to provide clean, fresh water in a chick-safe waterer. Hydration is just as important as nutrition, especially since chicks often don’t eat much until they’ve had a good drink.
This is a great time to introduce them to Backyard Boost® Defense. Backyard Boost Defense is a liquid supplement for poultry designed to support digestion and a healthy immune response. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. Defense also provides nutrients needed in times of stress and promotes water intake and hydration – vital to growing baby chicks.
We suggest adding small pebbles or marbles to the water dish to prevent drowning in the first few days.
What Else Can Baby Chicks Eat?
While chick starter should make up 90% or more of their diet for the first few weeks, some additional items can be offered. These human foods, in small amounts, can be introduced once the chicks are about 1–2 weeks old.
Healthy Treats
- Boiled egg yolk: Soft and protein-rich, a great first treat.
- Chopped herbs: Parsley, oregano, and dill are chick-safe and beneficial.
- Plain yogurt: A spoonful can aid digestion and support gut health.
- Finely chopped vegetables: Like lettuce, carrots and cucumbers.
- Oatmeal: Cooked or dry, for variety and fiber.
When feeding anything other than chick starter, you should also provide chick grit—tiny insoluble stones that help chicks grind up their food in their gizzard. Without grit, chicks may struggle to digest anything other than feed.
Avoid giving treats too early or too frequently. It can lead to poor nutrition and slower growth.
What Should You Not Feed Baby Chicks?
We’ve answered the big question, what do baby chicks eat. However, just as important is what you should not feed your new little chicks. Some foods that are safe for humans or even adult chickens can be dangerous for baby chicks. Here’s what to avoid:
- Bread and pasta: Low in nutrients and hard to digest.
- Uncooked rice or beans: Can swell in the stomach or be toxic.
- Citrus fruits: Too acidic for chicks’ digestive systems.
- Avocado: Contains persin, which is toxic to birds.
- Onions and garlic (in excess): Can affect taste of eggs later and harm red blood cells.
- Chocolate, caffeine and alcohol: These are highly toxic to all poultry.
Stick with giving your chicks starter feed and keep treats to a minimum to ensure optimal health.
Feeding Timeline: What to Feed & When
Here’s a simple age-based timeline of what chicks should eat at various stages:
- 0-6 weeks: Chick Starter (medicated or not
- High protein (18-20% is essential for early growth)
- 6-8 weeks: Chick Starter and transition to Grower Feed
- Grower Feed contains slightly less protein
- 8-18 weeks: Grower Feed
- Supports steady growth without excess calcium
- 18+ weeks: Layer Feed (for hens)
- Higher protein levels support egg production
It is critical to never feed layer feed to baby chicks. The high calcium levels can damage their kidneys and lead to bone issues.
Feeding Frequency & Tips
Chicks should have constant access to feed and clean water. Unlike some pets, baby chicks self-regulate their intake and won’t overeat on balanced feed.
Tips for Feeding Success
- Refill feeders and waterers daily to ensure freshness.
- Clean containers regularly to prevent mold or bacterial growth.
- Raise feeders slightly as chicks grow to prevent contamination from droppings.
- Observe your chicks. Lethargy or poor growth can be a sign of improper feeding or illness.
Water: The Other Half of Nutrition
Chicks can go longer without food than without water. Clean, accessible water is vital from the very beginning. Dehydration can kill a chick faster than you might expect.
We already mentioned adding Backyard Boost Defense to your chicks’ water. Adding this to their fresh water daily will help keep them healthy and keep them drinking. Read what other Backyard Boost users have to say about this product.
“Backyard Boost is simply amazing! I picked up chicks from the post office. They were lethargic, droopy eyes, and I thought I would definitely lose some. I dipped all their beaks in water, and they fought me. I then took the water and added Backyard Boost, I walked out and left them. I came back 15 minutes later, and all the chicks were drinking and had drunk half of the water I put in with the Backyard Boost in it. All my chicks are alive, healthy and happy.” – Patti Wood
“During this summer, we have noticed a decline in our flock from lighter combs to decreased laying. Backyard Boost Defense has livened up our flock tremendously, and we have noticed a little pep in their step too! Combined with Backyard Boost Daily Essentials, our flock is performing and feeling its best!” – Taylor Couch, The Farm Stop
How to Tell If Your Chicks Are Eating Well
Since chicks can’t tell you how they feel, we thought we’d share with you a few tell-tale signs that they are eating well and thriving. Healthy chicks will:
- Be active and curious
- Have plump crops – a small bulge in their upper chest area
- Show consistent growth
- Have smooth, fluffy feathers
- Produce normal, firm droppings
If your chicks seem lethargic, are losing weight or have messy vents, they may not be eating or digesting properly. These signs warrant quick attention and possibly vet care.
Backyard Boost Offers Another Option
A surefire way to prevent “what do baby chicks eat” from becoming “oh no, am I not feeding my chickens right?” is through daily dietary supplementation. In addition to Backyard Boost Defense, we also offer Backyard Boost Daily Essentials. Daily Essentials is a pelleted protein supplement for poultry designed to maximize digestibility and egg production.
In addition to Amaferm, a prebiotic, research-proven to enhance digestibility, it also contains AO-Biotics® EQE, a postbiotic research-proven to enhance egg quality. This daily pellet provides nutrients needed for overall well-being.
We recommend adding Daily Essentials to your flock’s diet when you start feeding layer feed. This high-calcium, high-protein supplement is great for overall health and egg quality.
More about AO-Biotics
We’ve mentioned both Amaferm and AO-Biotics EQE. AO-Biotics Amaferm is a prebiotic that has been research proven time and again. Amaferm provides maintained growth and improves feed efficiency by 2.9%.
AO-Biotics EQE – egg quality enhancer – is the first and only postbiotic for layers. It is research proven to:
- Produce more sellable eggs
- Improve egg mass
- Increase productive life span
Give your Chicks a Boost Today!
We hope we’ve answered that question: what do baby chicks eat? Feeding baby chicks doesn’t have to be complicated. Stick with high-quality chick starter, provide fresh water, give your chicks Backyard Boost, and you’ll be well on your way to raising a happy, healthy flock.
Whether you’re raising three chicks or thirty, a little knowledge goes a long way. Start them off right, and they’ll reward you with companionship, entertainment and eventually protein-filled fresh eggs. Looking for more information than what do baby chicks eat? Check out our Chicken Care Cycle for information about health and coop care.
Get your Backyard Boost Today!
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Perhaps you prefer to shop in person. Our Where to Buy tool can help you find an authorized BioZyme retailer closest to you.