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Free Choice Grit?

post #1 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 

Thus far for my 5 week olds I have been mixing grit into their chick starter and all has gone well, but I'd much rather provide free choice grit and stop worrying about salting their darn food with sand, LOL. Today I bought a small open topped bird feeder (like one for the inside a bird cage) and filled it with grit. Simple question: is this OK? Do they really know exactly how much grit to eat? They won't mistake it for food and chow down and die from malnutrition? LOL, I know I'm lame but I worry about my babies. wink.png

Jessica, Wife to Isaac, stay at home, Jesus-lovin', Homeschoolin' mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2). Addicted to chickens and always hoping for more!

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Jessica, Wife to Isaac, stay at home, Jesus-lovin', Homeschoolin' mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2). Addicted to chickens and always hoping for more!

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post #2 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:09pm

yes, it is fine, I have a small pan I use for the grit. They seem to like it, and love to play in it lol

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post #3 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:09pm

I just put mine in a small bowl by their food and they just take what they need and leave the rest.  Half the time it gets tipped over in their bedding lol, but I read a lot of people just offer it separate.

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post #4 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:26pm
I offer mine separate as well, so far no issues.

Patti - Ringleader to two crazy boys, plus a new princess.

Chicken Math strikes again...  11 hens, 1 rooster, 3 pullets, 17 chicks, and more in the 'bator.

Fur-mama to Dodger, Oliver, and Cici. Foster dog-mama to many!

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Patti - Ringleader to two crazy boys, plus a new princess.

Chicken Math strikes again...  11 hens, 1 rooster, 3 pullets, 17 chicks, and more in the 'bator.

Fur-mama to Dodger, Oliver, and Cici. Foster dog-mama to many!

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post #5 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:27pm
Thread Starter 

OK well I'm glad I bought the bird feeder for it then, I don't want it wasted from them tipping and playing in it! hmm.png

Jessica, Wife to Isaac, stay at home, Jesus-lovin', Homeschoolin' mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2). Addicted to chickens and always hoping for more!

Reply

Jessica, Wife to Isaac, stay at home, Jesus-lovin', Homeschoolin' mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2). Addicted to chickens and always hoping for more!

Reply
post #6 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:31pm

we have a divided cat/dog dish with oyster on one side and grit on the other and they take what they want when they need it and so far so good.
 

Wife and  Mom to 2 young men (17 &22), 4 dogs, 2 indoor cats, 2 feral cats, 1 rabbit, 1 parrot, 4 ferrets, 1 betta fish and now 3 hens and 4 pullets    we LOVE our lil zoo

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Wife and  Mom to 2 young men (17 &22), 4 dogs, 2 indoor cats, 2 feral cats, 1 rabbit, 1 parrot, 4 ferrets, 1 betta fish and now 3 hens and 4 pullets    we LOVE our lil zoo

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post #7 of 9
5/1/12 at 10:07pm

I put a small round pan in the cage with grit. Thinking my chicks would enjoy that, maybe even dust bath in it. But they ate SO much of the grit! So I took it out...

 

How much is too much when your chicks are pigglets in chicks clothing!?

Silkies : Blue, Black, Splash, White, Buff.

 

D'anver : Blue Quail, Porcelain, Mille, Quail, Silver Quail, Blue Silver Quail.

 

Old English Game Bantam : Silver Duckwing.

 

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Silkies : Blue, Black, Splash, White, Buff.

 

D'anver : Blue Quail, Porcelain, Mille, Quail, Silver Quail, Blue Silver Quail.

 

Old English Game Bantam : Silver Duckwing.

 

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post #8 of 9
5/1/12 at 10:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ange92040 View Post

we have a divided cat/dog dish with oyster on one side and grit on the other and they take what they want when they need it and so far so good.
 

Don't give them oyster shell as chicks! Oyster shell is used for laying hens to get more calcium if they need it. Baby chicks can overdose from too much calcium. This is the main reason that you don't want them to eat layer feed that has calcium added (if you were going to mix old and young you would use "Flock Raiser" with no calcium added). I wouldn't offer oyster shell until the are at least 5 months.

 

On the 2 batches that I have raised I have offered them sand at 3 days on the side. My first batch went crazy eating it when I first offered it. It wasn't a problem with them eating too much even with it in there all the time. I use Paver Sand that you can find at the hardware store for like $3 for 30 lbs or so.

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post #9 of 9
5/1/12 at 10:22pm

oops sorry yes don't give it to them till they are ready to lay. oops sorry.
 

Wife and  Mom to 2 young men (17 &22), 4 dogs, 2 indoor cats, 2 feral cats, 1 rabbit, 1 parrot, 4 ferrets, 1 betta fish and now 3 hens and 4 pullets    we LOVE our lil zoo

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Wife and  Mom to 2 young men (17 &22), 4 dogs, 2 indoor cats, 2 feral cats, 1 rabbit, 1 parrot, 4 ferrets, 1 betta fish and now 3 hens and 4 pullets    we LOVE our lil zoo

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