Grit - Sand - Question...

[SarniaTricia]

Hi
I have 15 - 5 day old chicks
I put a small dish of sand from the big girls coop in with the babies.
They seem to be eating quite a bit of the sand?? (They have also eaten 2 lbs of chick start in 5 days.)

Am I ok with all this?

Thanks
Patricia

 

[LilMissChz]

On this note, I live in a beach (brackish/fresh water) community. Can I use the sand from my beach?

 

[SarniaTricia]

Hi
Bumping the post as I am hoping the chick pros are out there to help LilMizChz and I with our question.
Thanks

 

[LilMissChz]

Yes, please.... we would really like an answer to this question.

Thanks in advance.

Hi
Bumping the post as I am hoping the chick pros are out there to help LilMizChz and I with our question.
Thanks

 

[Fierlin1182]

I think the sand eating should be okay. Chickens, left to their own devices outside, will generally eat little pebbles and other gritty stuff for their crops, although they technically don't need grit until they're out eating grass and insects.

Check out this article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop
There's a comment at the bottom that explains it's okay if they'r eating the sand.

LilMiss, I'm sorry I can't help with your query. I don't know. But hope you get an answer soon! I can't imagine there would be anything wrong with it though.

 

[SarniaTricia]

I don't know if this is just a happy correlation, but.... I have not had an issue with pasty but and at 5 days old they were already dust bathing in it! (after I increased the size of the dish)