Chicks Demand the Spice

The spice must flow! As worms threatened production, Doc suggested worming the chickens with red pepper flakes. It was such a big hit that we used up the entire bottle of pepper flakes in just a couple days.

To make sure the chicks got their fair share, I have started keeping Buffy outside the chick tractor during the day. She orbits the tractor, eating adult food. They stay inside consuming chick starter and treats.

To each their own

Ever frugal, I noticed that I could get a lot of fresh jalapeños for only a few cents. I gleefully purchased a bag of jalapeños and Doc chopped some up for the chicks. Naturally, they ran in abject terror upon first sighting the horrible invading veggie. But soon, they were demanding their daily delicious green treat. Oh the chickeny joy!

Stalking the wild pepper

Texas chicks demand hot stuff

They demand their chick starter also.

Crunchy starter is crunchy

It must taste better in the middle

Actually, they are just demanding.

Feasting Chickens

My chickens are spoiled. They get treats every day. Insanely delicious treats. And they know it.

Because of this, I must only bring treats to the chicken pen before I let the chickens out for the day. If not, I risk getting torn to bits in the ensuing chaos.

The adults need calcium, so they get yogurt for their treat.

Calcium-rich yogurt treat

Certain foods are so highly desired for their awesome deliciousness that Mr. Big will preempt the girls and run to the head of the line. At risk of life and limb, I was able to shoo him away so the girls could get a morsel.

Mr. Big with guilt written all over his face (and wattles)

Doctor Dolittle suggested worming the chickens for spring. The chicks spend their days in the pen with the flock. So worms could be a problem for the little fuzzballs. We decided to feed everybody red pepper flakes.

As usual, the adults ran away in terror from the new food. We got them acclimated with a blend of oatmeal and pepper flakes until we could feed them straight pepper flakes and they would eat every one. We knew they were eating the peppers from the bright red poo.

The chicks needed no persuasion and took to the flakes after only one day of abject terror. Now they look forward to the bright red bits of deliciousness, especially when mixed with leftover cornbread.

Red pepper flakes and cornbread treat

We are careful to make sure they get a complete chick diet. They have access to dirt, hay, wood chips, more dirt, chick starter, chick starter with dirt, and various kinds of treats like red pepper flakes, cornbread leftovers, and yogurt with dirt.

Complete chick diet of dirt, starter, pepper flakes, and yogurt

The chicks are growing fast on their super diet. I fear that one day a chick will put on a blue leotard with a red cape and bend the bars off the brooder cage.

As it is, I have to deal with a jailbreak every day.