At what age should I start my chicks on grit?

[jesse_levi]

I am buying chicks that are 4weeks old.I have heard that you should start them on grit at anytime from 2-8 weeks.I remember that our chicks on the farm always had a natural supply of grits anywhere that they roamed.
Anyway,this time I am raising them in a suburban setting,And was just curious what the general consensus was.

Thanks

 

[Sissy]

I start mine at 31/2months on grit.
as thats
when Ialso begin
their layer feed.

 

[gritsar]

Your chicks won't need grit until such time that they are eating foods other than their chick starter/grower. Keep in mind that foods they find naturally, such as bugs or blades of grass count as other foods.
I start my chicks on healthy treats, hard-boiled egg, yogurt and crickets, early (less than two weeks old) so I offer them a little parakeet grit at that time. After they start going outside during the day (age two weeks) I stop offering it because I know that they are instinctively finding their own outside.

 

[CorporateGranola]

gritsar, my chicks are about the same age as jesse's and i was wondering the same thing, thanks for your quick reply! I was wondering one thing though... I've heard that grit with calcium (i.e. parakeet grit) isn't really good for the chicks. Is there a brand you would recommend that doesn't have calcium in it?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Some mass retailers, like walmart, sometimes carry the plain parakeet grit (w/o calcium), though it's kind of hit and miss on which stores at which times. You can also purchase chick grit at farm stores - tractor supply, atwoods and the like. Play sand works, as does going out to a section of your driveway or yard and digging them up some "grit". I can remember my first batch of chicks loving it when I would dig them up a clump of dirt/grass/small pebbles and offer it to them in a shallow pan. They'd scratch through it first to pick out the grit, then dustbathe in the leftovers.

 

[CorporateGranola]

wow! you are fast on the trigger!

Thanks very much for the info, gritsar.

Peace!

-=CG=-