4 week old chicks eating play sand?

[hanselong]

My 4 week old chicks (1 Silkie, 1 Dorking, 1 Easter Egger) are very excitedly eating the play sand I intended to be their "sand bath."

Should I leave them be, or should I take the "sand bath" away?

Thank you very much in advance for any response/advice/comment!

[edit] Prior to now, I've sprinkled some grit in their starter feed; I've never left grit aside for "free choice." Part of my concern is because they will certainly also poop in their "sand bath" so I'm concerned they'll get sick over time.

 

[chookchick]

Don't worry so much, let them be chickens! They "know" how much grit they need--no need to sprinkle it over their feed, they can just get it out of the sand. If chickens got sick every time they ingested some poo, they would have died out long ago...

 

[hanselong]

Cool! Thank you very much!

I won't worry about it then