How much grit do chickens need?

[gel2727]

Do they really even need it? I have 1 year old chickens that I've never given grit to. Should I start? Should I get my new chicks some chick grit? If so, how do you feed it to them?

I thought I read somewhere when I first got the older ones that they didn't need grit if they had access to dirt (their entire run is dirt and I usually throw in some lettuce, vegetables, dandelion, or clover every day). The chicks don't eat anything but the chick starter, and are kept in the brooder until fully feathered (I will start taking them for supervised visits to the run at about 3-4 weeks).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[whippet128]

I feed oyster shell and grit in pig feeders hung on coup wall. Oyster shell is for calcium. Grit is for proper digestion of the food they eat. Mine eat less grit in the summer. I think they get enough from the driveway and in the yard. grit is very important. Please remember oyster shell is not a replacement for grit and grit is not a replacement for oyster shell.

 

[cposz]

OK, got it.
Sounds like we should leave both out for them and they will take what they need.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Do they really even need it? I have 1 year old chickens that I've never given grit to. Should I start? Should I get my new chicks some chick grit? If so, how do you feed it to them?

I thought I read somewhere when I first got the older ones that they didn't need grit if they had access to dirt (their entire run is dirt and I usually throw in some lettuce, vegetables, dandelion, or clover every day). The chicks don't eat anything but the chick starter, and are kept in the brooder until fully feathered (I will start taking them for supervised visits to the run at about 3-4 weeks).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

They won't get grit from dirt, they'll get it from rocks/pebbles. I make that distinction because there are basically no rocks on my property (good old solid clay everywhere). If you've got soil with plenty of rocks, there's no need for the stuff. If your property is like mine, it needs to be fed, as they're not going to get it anywhere else.

 

[drumstick diva]

If they free range, they can probably find all the grit they need.

 

[lizandrob]

I fed my chickens the chick grit until it ran out then switched them to poultry grit. There was no issue

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Again, this post is SO OLD. HOWEVER. How much Egg Shells is sufficient for 14, 3 week old chicks?

Thanks

They won’t need egg shells or oyster shell until they’re laying.

 

[ka-doodled]

As this old thread rises from the dead. ;-)
Some general basic info....

Chickens need grit because they do not have teeth to grind down their food. When left to forage over a larger area, chickens naturally pick up grit in the form of tiny pebbles. They store grit in the gizzard and when the gizzard moves, the food is ground with any grit inside. The food, now a paste, can then pass safely through the digestive tract. The gizzard grinds up the grit, and eventually the grit is small enough to pass through the digestive tract, which is why chickens need to replenish it. Without grit, chickens cannot effectively eat their food and in some cases can suffer from impaction.

Hens also require calcium-rich oyster shell grit to help them with developing strong eggs. Without this nutritional supplement, hens can develop brittle bones or sour crop, especially those who are good layers.

In most cases, backyard chicken owners limit their flock’s foraging to keep them safe from predators. Even with free-range chickens, a piece of land may not have enough of the right kind of small pebbles to help chickens with digestion. It is often a good idea to offer some grit to help a flock.

K

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Your older chickens are getting the grit from your dirt floor. If you feed your new chicks treats then you need to include grit, if you do not feed them treats then no grit is needed.
I give my grit in a small dish and put it in there when treats are being offered, otherwise I don't have grit offered.

 

[jjhuntsalot]

I always give mine crushed oyster shell, about once a month. Great source of Calcium for egg producing too.