About grit

[allgr8dogs]

I let my chickens out to forage every day and my yard has literally tons of crushed gravel. Do I still need to provide grit?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I'd give them some anyway. If they don't use it,, you may never have to buy another bag though.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Provided your gravel has a mix of sizes, they'll likely get enough from foraging.

If you have long snowy winters, they will not be able to get full access to the gravel so you should provide grit in winter at least.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I feel the same way...

they dig up the yard, why am I buying them rocks ? but they love them as much as they love any other food source, so it fills some kind of need.

I bought a bag a year ago, they are almost through it, 10 bantams. It wasn't expensive and I will get them another bag.

But I will have a little voice in my head as I do it asking me what I am doing...

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I feel the same way...

they dig up the yard, why am I buying them rocks ? but they love them as much as they love any other food source, so it fills some kind of need.

I bought a bag a year ago, they are almost through it, 10 bantams. It wasn't expensive and I will get them another bag.

But I will have a little voice in my head as I do it asking me what I am doing...

I think of grit the same way I think about oyster shell...it's cheap insurance. As you said, a bag tends to last a while, isn't expensive, and they do eat it....so even if in theory they don't need it, why skimp to save a few bucks when it could put the flock at risk.

I am always amazed by how a 25 or 50 lb bag of grit or oyster shell or grit costs only a little more than a 5 lb bag. TSC has a 25 lb bag of grit for $8.99. A 5 lb bag? $6.99.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I am always amazed by how a 25 or 50 lb bag of grit or oyster shell or grit costs only a little more than a 5 lb bag. TSC has a 25 lb bag of grit for $8.99. A 5 lb bag? $6.99.

I think they charge more per lb on the small bag because the small bag doesn't break your back trying to get it into and out of the back of the truck/car. The big bag is cheaper because they soooooo enjoy watching you struggle to get it to the cash & then home.

it is a cruel cruel thing to do and gosh they must laugh making us pay for a bag of rocks!

it reminds me of pet-rocks (just enough before my time I don't know how much they cost, but close enough for me to know they existed)

 

[riss]

Years I've had chickens I've never really have them any. It's more of an option if you want to leave some out. Mine went without it fine I only really used it for chicks

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think they charge more per lb on the small bag because the small bag doesn't break your back trying to get it into and out of the back of the truck/car. The big bag is cheaper because they soooooo enjoy watching you struggle to get it to the cash & then home.

That's why I prefer small bags. Easier to handle and store. So I don't mind paying extra since I don't have a huge flock that's going to blow through oyster shell and grit anyhow.

Feed is another issue. Every feed store I've been has employees that carry feed to your car if you ask. But my issue is once I get it home, I can't lift the 40 & 50 lb bags and can't get them out of the car. If I didn't have hubby around to do the lifting, I'd have to get the smaller bags just so I could pick them up!

 

[MountainWoman73]

I let my chickens out to forage every day and my yard has literally tons of crushed gravel. Do I still need to provide grit?

You don't need to buy grit. For chicks that aren't outside yet, bring some gravelly dirt from your yard in for them.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Clearly, we need a chicken feed delivery service to help folks out in this situation.

I’m relatively young (compared to say, rocks) and relatively spry (also compared to a rock) but I’m certainly conscious that once I’ve lifted 3 50 lb bags from shelf to cart, cart to truck, and truck to shed, that’s 450 lbs.